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Firefighters battle a house fire Saturday at 3220 Maple St. in Longview. A Castle Rock police officer on his way to work stopped and rescued a woman in the burning house. Roger Werth / The Daily News

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Officer saves woman from burning house

Sunday, October 12, 2008 5:05 AM PDT

By Tony Lystra

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A Castle Rock police officer on his way to work Saturday morning kicked down the door of a burning Longview home and rescued a 77-year-old woman, authorities said.

The officer, Charley Worley, who lives in the area, heard about the fire over his police radio and decided to help. The blaze had started in the garage and was spreading into the attic of Judith Duley's home at 3220 Maple St., according to the Longview Fire Department.

Duley said she was sleeping and woke up when she heard the door break.

"They just literally picked me up and took me outside," she said. "It's just kind of a blur."

Longview Battalion Chief Brian Smith said in a statement that "the outcome could have been tragic" had Worley not been nearby.

A neighbor reported the blaze just before 8 a.m., the fire department said. Twenty firefighters from Longview and Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue fought the fire.

"I lost the east end of the house with the garage," Duley said. "My van was in there. It was totaled."

Duley and the fire department said the fire started in a wall heater in a bathroom at the back of the garage. Duley has lived in the home for five years.

"It sure made a mess of things," she said.

The fire department estimated the damage at $85,000.

Duley spent the morning at a neighbor's house while fire crews mopped up the fire. She said she would stay Saturday night at a friend's house.

"I was surprised at how many really nice neighbors I had," she said. "I was just amazed at the people who seemed to come out of nowhere."

mole wrote on Oct 11, 2008 11:58 PM:

" PUT THAT OFFICER ON THE HERO STATUS BOARD,GOOOD JOB!!!! "

local_citizen wrote on Oct 12, 2008 1:34 AM:

" I commend Officer Worley for his actions! Not only was he out of his jurisdiction but he risked his life to save the life of another. A TRUE HERO! Thank you, Officer Worley for putting your life on the line to save this woman. I am sure she is more than appreciative! "

bluE wrote on Oct 12, 2008 2:28 AM:

" Officer Charley Worley needs to pat himself on the shoulder. "

Nom D'Plume wrote on Oct 12, 2008 7:08 AM:

" I am proud to know Officer Worley personally. This is not the first time he has risked his life to save someone. He really is a top-notch officer and deserves some sort of medal. "

Diesel wrote on Oct 12, 2008 7:18 AM:

" I would be willing to bet that if asked Officer Worley would say that he was just doing his job. What he actually did was place himself in harms way to aid another. My hats off to you Sir and thanks for the fine job. "

banana hammock wrote on Oct 12, 2008 7:19 AM:

" nice to see the good side of humanity "

lucky1 wrote on Oct 12, 2008 8:00 AM:

" Great job. With all the bad stories lately its nice to know there are still great people in our community. A real local hero. "

local-leo wrote on Oct 12, 2008 8:22 AM:

" Good work Ofc. Worley. Funny, any other time, all you TDN regulars would be bashing the police for "being out of their jurisdiction." You are all the same, never want a cop until you need 'em, then they better be around the corner!!!!! Be thankful that all the men and women are out there serving you. "

Rosey Glasses wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:06 AM:

" Good job and good story. Thanks Officer Worley for a fine job and excellent rescue. This is the type of stuff that shows the community that there are selfless people in our community and on our law enforcement staff. I love to see stories like this one. "

Blogger Jogger wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:28 AM:

" Good on you, Officer Worley! Oh, and good on Cowlitz Fire District #2 for going to a fire that wasn't theirs! "

Mr. Chinook wrote on Oct 12, 2008 10:38 AM:

" We have an excellent police force in Castle Rock. Great job, Officer Worley. "

Simple Man wrote on Oct 12, 2008 11:10 AM:

" When are you cops going to start doing your job dont you know there are bigger fish to fry than saving elderly women from burning buildings. Gosh. "

Rosey Glasses wrote on Oct 12, 2008 11:18 AM:

" local-leo, it is people like you that make these stories out to be something else. This man did this out of the kindness of his heart, had it been anyone else, they too would have been praised for saving a life. Not sure what plane you are on... but it is time to realize he did this not as a cop, but as a human being. get over it. "

mad monkeys wrote on Oct 12, 2008 4:52 PM:

" What a hero,whether he was on duty, off duty, or ony his way to work he is still a hero in my book. I agree with you Rosey Glasses. I am glad she is ok! "

justareader wrote on Oct 12, 2008 7:11 PM:

" In the midst of disaster, it was good to hear something wonderful! Having had a fire in my home, I know they are devastating.

For those of you choosing to demean the efforts of the officer, shame on you. There are good and bad officers. The good ones far outweight the bad. How many average citizens would choose to enter a burning building, rappel down a cliff to someone injured, face down someone with a gun, or be able to talk down a jumper from a high place?

Let's all give credit where credit is due. If we don't recognize those that do well (excellent even) we risk losing those great and wonderful people that we depend on.

Many thanks to the wonderful fire and police personel that help us each day. To those few who are not up to our expectations, maybe they'll get bored and go away or maybe they'll screw up and be forced away. "

mom of four wrote on Oct 12, 2008 11:12 PM:

" Knowing Charlie personally this is no surprise he is a very sweet, honest, and a hero! "

VenomousVixon wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:57 AM:

" I agree with all of you. We need more officers like Officer Worley!!! It just happens that I live on 33rd Ave...around the "loop"...I have to take Maple street to get to my job as well as get home. I was working that morning and came back to fire trucks and emergency crews blocking the street helping the lady who's house was burning. I remember looking at the smoke and thinking...."They just remodled the house on the outside!! Those poor people!!" It's a tragedy...yet a ray of hope....things can be replaced....people cannot...Thank you Officer Whorley!!!! "

VenomousVixon wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:31 AM:

" Another side note....Simple man....apparently you wanna be one of what we in the "chat world" call, an attention getter.....enough with trying to make people mad....just a recap...your not the story...Officer Whorely is!! And if it wasn't for him, God only knows what would have happened....if you want attention...save your own citizen!! Or better yet....donate time towards the community! You'll become a valued citizen :o) "

Simple Man wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:48 AM:

" Well I apologize Vixon. I didnt think anyone was naive enough to believe me, but just to let you know I am very pro police and Fire Dept. 1st responders have some of the hardest jobs in the nation with the most critics. I was just trying to mach certain people that seem to think police are worthless, but it doesnt look like they read stories about greatness. And this is a very heroic story. "

Tortoise wrote on Oct 13, 2008 9:48 AM:

" Yeah, I am pretty amazed that anyone would misconstrue Simple Man's comment as anything other than sarcasm. Wow. Thanks Simple Man, I got a laugh out of it. "

unbelieveable wrote on Oct 13, 2008 12:35 PM:

" I am so proud of you Charlie! I am sure your mom is, too! You have always been a top notch person since I have known you! This is no surprise to me....it is just who you are! And thats what we love about you! "

mikadax wrote on Oct 13, 2008 3:09 PM:

" I am not surprised by officer Worley's actions. All of our Castle Rock cops are top notch on and off duty! "

sparky wrote on Oct 13, 2008 4:16 PM:

" Having been accused of being a bit saracatic myself a time or two, I read you like a book Simple Man! I also got a chuckle out of it. But seriously, thank you Officer Worley for what you did and for what you do every single day to protect all of us! "

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