Harris County Emergency Services District 48 Community Risk Reduction Division Chief Jason Tharp saved a motorist from a burning vehicle at about 4 p.m. Friday evening. Tharp was on his way to a COVID-19 vaccination event with a neighboring department when he came across a burning vehicle that had crashed into a tree.

“Chief Tharp retrieved the fire extinguisher from his vehicle and advised Comm Center to dispatch an engine and medic for the vehicle with a patient trapped. He used the extinguisher to knock down the fire under the vehicle enough to safely get the patient out,” the department announced via Facebook.

Tharp, who was assisted by another person that came upon the accident, was able to break the window of the vehicle and move the driver a safe distance away. Additional firefighters arrived on the scene just south of West Fernhurst Drive on the southbound side of  West Grand Parkway South and were able to put the fire out. Medics also responded and transported the man for treatment of a broken ankle and minor injuries.

The announcement did not identify the driver of the burning vehicle.