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Bravery, not tragedy

Two mounted police officers happen upon a burning building. One kicks in the door, and another pulls a man to safety.

By BRADY DENNIS
Published September 2, 2006

TAMPA - Most times, Tampa police Officers Sal Mazza and Tim Pasley stay clear of fires. They spend their days instead as part of the Police Department's mounted patrol.

"We ride horses, man," Mazza said. "One dangerous career is enough."

He said this on Friday afternoon at the rainy corner of Seventh Avenue and Hendry Street, not long after he and Pasley pulled a 45-year-old man from a burning building, and not long before people started calling them heroes.

Heroism came by chance.

Mazza and Pasley had just picked up feed for their horses along Seventh Avenue and were returning to store it in South Tampa when they came upon a fire raging inside a two-story building behind a business at 3812 E Seventh Ave.

Mechanics at a body repair shop across the street had called 911, but firefighters had not yet arrived. One of the mechanics, 57-year-old Jose Ruiz, had bounded up the stairs to the building and tried to kick in a second-story door. No luck.

That's when Mazza arrived and barreled through the door on his first try. "I didn't think about anything," he said. "I just ran up the stairs and kicked the door in."

Inside, David Repeta lay on the floor.

Officials said Mazza and Repeta were overcome by the smoke pouring from the building. They said Pasley, who had radioed for help, came and pulled both men to safety.

"These officers really did put their lives on the line," Tampa fire Capt. Bill Wade said. "They were in the right spot at the right time."

Officials said they aren't sure what started the fire just before noon. Lightning and rain were moving through the area at the time, so weather will be a consideration, Wade said.

He said the Fire Marshal's Office will continue to investigate, though the cause of the fire does not appear suspicious. The building suffered heavy damage, estimated at $100,000.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within 45 minutes.

Investigators said Repeta worked for the business listed at the address, Eagle Recovery and Transport, and also lived there.

Repeta was conscious and talking after the incident, Wade said, and his injuries were not life-threatening.

He was treated by paramedics at the scene for smoke inhalation and taken to Tampa General Hospital.

Mazza and Pasley also were treated for smoke inhalation.

They eventually went to TGH in their Police Department pickup truck, loaded with horse feed, for another precautionary evaluation.

[Last modified September 2, 2006, 06:21:40]