Cheektowaga Officer's Heroic Act: A Life Snatching From the Flames

In a heart-stopping display of courage and quick thinking, Cheektowaga Police Officer Chris Gelnette is being lauded for a truly heroic act: pulling an unconscious man from a burning car just moments before it became a raging inferno. The man he saved, 62-year-old James Penvose, credits Gelnette with nothing less than saving his life.

The harrowing incident unfolded on a recent Saturday morning on Union Road, near the bustling intersection with Route 33.

Officer Gelnette was on patrol when he spotted the devastating aftermath of a single-car crash. A vehicle had veered off the road and collided with a guardrail, its engine compartment already spewing smoke, a chilling precursor to the tragedy that threatened to unfold.

Without a second's hesitation, Gelnette sprang into action.

He grabbed his patrol car's fire extinguisher, racing towards the wrecked vehicle. Through the smoke, he saw Penvose slumped against the steering wheel, seemingly disoriented or unconscious. The flames began to lick from under the hood, steadily growing more intense with each passing moment.

"He was mumbling, incoherent," Gelnette recounted, describing the frantic moments as he struggled to unbuckle Penvose from his seatbelt.

"The car was starting to catch fire more and more." The situation was rapidly deteriorating, with fire consuming the engine bay and threatening to engulf the entire cabin. It was a race against time, with the searing heat and acrid smoke closing in.

With incredible strength and determination, Gelnette managed to pull Penvose free, dragging him away from the increasingly dangerous wreckage.

Just seconds after they were clear, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, a stark testament to the narrow escape and the officer's impeccable timing. "It went up in a ball of fire maybe 10 seconds after," Gelnette stated, a chilling reminder of the proximity to disaster.

Penvose, who suffered injuries including a fractured sternum and several broken ribs, expressed profound gratitude from his hospital bed.

"If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be here," he shared, the weight of the moment clear in his voice. He fondly recalled Gelnette's reassuring presence: "He was there, comforting me... He was saying, 'Don't worry about it, you're fine, you're fine.'"

When asked about his bravery, Officer Gelnette, ever humble, downplayed his heroic actions.

"It's what we're trained to do," he said, emphasizing the dedication of first responders. Yet, his quick thinking and selfless courage exemplify the very best of law enforcement and human spirit. This wasn't just another day on patrol; it was a defining moment where one person's readiness to act saved another's life, turning a potential tragedy into a powerful story of heroism in Cheektowaga.