On September 13, 2023, at 11:31PM the Oxford Borough Police responded to a fire alarm in the unit block of South Third Street.  Officers arrived on location within two minutes and observed large flames from the roof area of multiple buildings. Officer Karilanna Eller (sworn 2021) and Officer Scott Richards (sworn 2006) quickly went door-to-door to evacuate apartment residents.

“The hallways were hot and smoky, alarms were going off, but we were still waking adults and children up who were sleeping. Initially when we arrived, Officer Eller entered the front, and I entered the rear to get everyone out. Every door we knocked on; someone was inside. Residents were banging on additional doors as they ran out. Officer Eller and I had to help people to the closest exit away from the flames. We closed as many windows as possible and doors behind us to slow the spread of the fire. As we got people outside, I saw residents in Niblock Alley help flake out fire hoses to do what they could to help the fire department."

The Union Fire Department and Oxford Ambulance, assisted by Medic 94 and the multiple mutual aid departments are to be highly commended for equal heroism during this massive response.

The area of South Third Street between Market and Hodgson Street will be closed for an undetermined amount of time while the cleanup continues.

The video link is from Officer Scott Richards’s body worn camera: https://youtu.be/tgQugCQGRX

The video is of Officer Richards inside the building (21-23 S Third Street) attempting to get everyone to safety. Officer Richards stands in the building's center hallway directing a mother holding her child to exit toward the rear. Officer Richards radios to dispatcher of the building collapse. Officer Richards works his way past flames in the windows as he yells for other residents to go out toward the front of the building away from the flames.  Take note to the fire right outside the windows burning in the hallway. 

We would like to commend Officer Scott Richards and Officer Karilanna Eller for their outstanding bravery that resulted in the saving of human lives.

Gratefully, 

Philip Harris, Mayor of Oxford