One of the biggest days of Hagop Cigercioglu's 14 years with the Ridgefield Police Department came when he wasn't even scheduled to work.
Cigercioglu ran toward the burning remnants of a home in his neighborhood Monday while off duty after he heard the house explode.
"It went right through me," he said of the sound of the explosion.
Flames surrounded the wreckage when Cigercioglu heard moaning coming from the destruction. He didn't expect to hear a voice as he did not believe anyone could have survived such a blast.
"Not with the debris I saw," Cigercioglu said.
Another 14 police officers joined him at the scene and together a group of them lifted a wooden frame, which used to be part of the victim's home, up high enough for him to escape. Cigercioglu motioned to the man, a neighbor that he said he did not know beforehand, to crawl to safety. The man listened to Cigercioglu and more help arrived. The victim is in stable condition at Hackensack University Medical Center.