WICHITA, Kansas, July 24, 2008 – Even though he was not a trained firefighter, a Wichita police officer entered a burning home and saved an elderly woman Thursday morning.

"I just happened to be at the intersection, saw smoke coming up over the top of the house,” said Officer Victor Trillo.

Trillo was heading to another call near MacArthur and Gold when he came upon the burning home. He stopped and was told by family members that their grandmother, in her eighties, was still inside the burning home.

"I just got down on hands and knees and crawled down as far as I could, luckily enough I saw her feet and was able to grab her by her ankles and pull her out,” Trillo said.

Trillo’s vision was blocked by the thick smoke, and as he exited the house with the elderly woman, he was attacked by the family’s two pit bulls.

“I guess they thought I was hurting Grandma, and when I was pulling her out, I had one or two pit bulls on my right leg,” Trillo said.

Neighbors and relatives subdued the dogs and the officer was not injured. The elderly woman was rushed to Via Christi-St. Francis burn center where she remains in critical condition.

"She was breathing, but she wasn't speaking or coherent,” said Trillo.

Nine companies from the Wichita Fire Department arrived on the scene after she was rescued. Authorities cerdit the quick thinking of Officer Trillo for saving the the woman’s life.

"If he is the first on the scene and he sees smoke coming out of a building, an officer is going to do what he can to make sure human life is not in peril,” said Gordon Bassham with the Wichita Police Department.

The fire caused extensive damage and is under investigation. It left a family homeless, but very thankful that a brave officer happened to be passing by when they were in need of help.