Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Officer Michael Coley with the Columbus Police Department the organization’s First Friday Hero for the month of August.

Officer Coley was patrolling the area of Veterans Parkway and Hancock Road in north Columbus just after midnight when he smelled smoke nearby. Following his instincts, he traced the source to a home engulfed in flames.

Officer Coley alerted dispatch and immediately sprang into action— knocking on the door and windows to alert anyone inside the smoke-filled home. Neighbors informed him an elderly woman lived there alone. As the fire quickly grew and firefighters were still in route, the officer made the split-second decision to enter the burning home. He located the woman asleep in her bed and escorted her to safety. Officer Coley and his colleagues also assisted firefighters by pulling hoses from the trucks, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to community safety. Watch the brave rescue here.

A ceremony with Coley and hospital leadership will be held on August 7 at 10 a.m. at the Public Safety Building to commend him for his response. His story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. 

“Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a better and safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.