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Man thanks WPB officer who saved him from fire

Posted at 11:30 PM, Jan 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-21 04:23:35-05

A heartfelt moment caught on camera as a man thanks the West Palm Beach officer who saved him from a fire early Wednesday morning.

The blaze tore through five homes Division Avenue and 4th Street.

Jimmie Jones was fast asleep in one of those homes. Officer Matthew Ward, who has only been on the force a year and a half, happened to be patrolling in the area when the call went out.

When he learned from neighbors that Jones was in one of the homes, he kicked in the door and got Jones out just in time.

Late Wednesday night Jones had the chance to thank Ward for saving him.

"You made me feel like royalty because I'm the only one there, and here you come saving my life. So I greatly appreciate it. Thank you," said Jones to Ward.

"You're very welcome," Ward replied. Ward says he was just doing his job. "I don't think that anyone else that I work with would not have done the same thing in the same situation," said Ward.

The four other homes were vacant.

Investigators are calling the fire suspicious, but the damage is so bad that they might not be able to determine a cause.