OUR NEIGHBORS AT WORK.

Union Pacific Track Inspector Rescues Couple from Burning Home.  Mike Brown was inspecting track on what might have been the former Litchfield and Madison northeast of St. Louis.

“It was blazing pretty good,” said Mike Brown, Maintenance of Way inspector. “I figured someone else probably reported it, but I pulled over and called 911 just in case. The dispatcher said I was the first one to call and asked if I would make sure everyone evacuated.”

Brown headed toward the burning house in his Union Pacific work truck, passing a few drivers watching from their vehicles.

“When I pulled up, a man with crutches was trying to get out of the house,” Brown said. “I helped him get outside, and he said his wife was still inside. The scariest thing I’ve ever done is look into that door and debate whether I should go in. The Courage to Care took over and I told myself, ‘If you’re going to do this, let’s go.’”

Using the hood from his sweatshirt to partially cover his face, Brown entered the house and called out to the woman.

“I couldn’t see her, but I finally heard her yell back,” he said. “She made it to the doorway, and I picked her up and carried her out to a safe place while we waited for first responders.”

Well done. It's worth noting that the track inspectors are also among the few eyes on the freight trains, at least by day when the inspectors are out and about.