Civil Guard Sergeant Aitor Suárez Villar, stationed at the Muros del Nalón outpost and attached to the Pravia Company of the Oviedo Command, described the Sunday mission in Pravia as the most intense moment of his service. Accompanied by guards José Ramón Camoira Martín and Adrián Riera Peñín, the team helped save a family of four trapped inside a residence on Suárez de Pazos de Pravia street near the train station in Asturias. The 34-year-old sergeant, who had just earned a much-needed break after the operation, spoke about the harrowing experience and the relief that there were no fatalities.
According to the sergeant, the incident began around seven in the evening when neighbors alerted them to a fire inside a house at a local rail stop area. Upon arrival, the responders initiated an evacuation, with three adults, two children, and a dog escaping the structure. Yet inside, others remained trapped as smoke thickened the air.
“We heard people screaming inside. The door was stubborn, so we worked to force it open”, Suárez Villar recalled. The team had to exert considerable effort, delivering several pushes and kicks before the door finally yielded. Once the barrier gave way, dense smoke billowed out, obscuring vision and turning the interior into a maze with no visible entrance.
They pressed forward into the smoke-filled corridor, climbing toward the upper levels as the structure groaned. A portion of the roof collapsed in front of them, narrowly missing the rescuers. Miraculously, they remained unharmed as they pressed further into the home.
Inside, the rescuers discovered an elderly man too frightened to move and a woman who screamed in distress, crying out for a child she could not locate. The sergeant described finding a four-year-old boy crying uncontrollably, unable to find his way to safety. The relief in their voices when the boy was finally found was immense, and the family began to calm, though the shock of the event lingered.
In a coordinated effort, all four family members were led to safety: the two elderly residents, the woman, and her son. They stood traumatized and unable to speak after the ordeal, grateful yet shaken by their experience and the fear that gripped them in the moments before escape. The team confirmed that the family had not been able to exit on their own or extinguish the flames.
The fire originated on a mattress, with other items in the home contributing to its rapid spread. Investigators continued to examine the scene to determine the exact ignition sources, including whether cigarettes played a role. The Civil Guard opened a formal inquiry to clarify these details.
“I have never faced a house fire with people trapped before”, Suárez Villar admitted. The moment underscored how overwhelming such scenes can be, especially when the victims are left without options. In these situations, he emphasized the importance of staying calm and focused. When smoke fills a space, the recommended approach is to head for the nearest exit, crouch low to minimize inhalation, and move quickly toward fresh air. The team acted with unwavering resolve and composure, preventing any loss of life during the incident.
Officials credited the sergeant and his colleagues for their disciplined response under pressure, which enabled them to perform critical rescues while maintaining safety for all involved. The experience served as a stark reminder of the dangers that can unfold in a single quiet Sunday and the vital role of first responders in protecting lives when minutes count. This account is drawn from statements given by the involved officers and witnesses at the scene (Civil Guard corroboration).