On March 7, 2010 at 3:37 a.m. HCSO received a 911 call from 12106 N Boulevard with an open line. While enroute, deputies received a second call indicating the 911 call was due to a house fire.

Deputy Joe DeVore quickly arrived and found a single family home fully engulfed in flames and falling power lines. The house was equipped with burglar bars on all the windows and doors, leaving only the front door open.

Deputy DeVore found two of the three occupants standing outside the residence suffering from smoke inhalation with a third resident still unaccounted for.

Deputy DeVore stepped inside the doorway and through heavy smoke could see Robie Hurst, 71 who appeared unconscious and lying on the floor.  Deputy DeVore entered the burning home and through the heavy smoke and flames pulled Hurst out to safety.

Additional deputies responded to the scene and noticed the home next door had also caught fire. Deputies woke those occupants and helped them evacuate their home.

Hillsborough County Fire personnel who were already on scene quickly extinguished the second fire which only caused a small amount of damage to the home.

Robie Hurst was taken to University Community Hospital where she was listed in stable condition. Rhonda O'Neal was taken to Tampa General Hospital and was listed in stable condition.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Deputy Joe DeVore's brave and heroic life saving actions will be submitted for an HCSO Life Saving Award.