WYANDOTTE, Mich. (WXYZ) — Judy Zalenski was baking a pie when she noticed flames coming from one of the burners on her electric stove.
Judy's husband, Bill, quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames but it wasn't enough and the fire started to spread.
Bill grabbed a second fire extinguisher and told Judy to go to the basement and cut the power.
But by the time Judy cut the power, the fire was trapping her in the basement.
"It was an inferno in my face," Judy told 7 Action News.
"I felt like I had made the worst decision of my life by asking her to go in the basement to shut the power off," said Bill as he wiped away a tear.
The couple lost their home of 45 years, but Judy was alive thanks to several Wyandotte Police officers that were quick to respond to Bill's 911 call.
Here's a portion of the 911 call.
Dispatcher: "911"
Caller: "Yes, hello, my name is William Zalenski. My house is on fire!"
Dispatcher: "How many people are in your house? How many people are in your house?"
Caller: "Myself and my wife, and I can't find her!"
Wyandotte Police were first on the scene.
"I was terrified I'd already lost her," said Bill.
The four responding officers were Nicholas Stathakis, his brother Alex Stathakis, John Webb and Cade Barwig. And all four jumped into action.
Officer Alex Stathakis grabbed a fire extinguisher from the back of his patrol vehicle.
The officers ran to the back of the couple's home but "fire had overtaken the rear of the house," Officer Alex Stathakis reported.
Officer Webb heard Judy's screams and broke out a basement window.
Officer Nicholas Stathaskis kicked out the window's steel frame, then leaned into the small opening, calling out for Judy.
About a minute later, through the thick black smoke that billowed out, Nicholas Stathaskis touched Judy's hand.
The last thing Judy remembers is grabbing onto the officer.
Officer Alex Stathakis spotted flames approaching Judith and used the fire extinguisher on the flames as the other officers pulled Judy from the basement.
Judy and her husband spent five days in the hospital recovering from smoke inhalation.
And on Thursday, they met the four officers that saved Judy's life. A moment Judy will never forget. "I said, 'You saved my life.'"
Judy and Bill are now full of gratitude as they restart their lives. "I couldn't say thank you enough," Bill said.
Police Chief Brian Zalewski and Deputy Chief Archie Hamilton joined the officers in surprising the couple with a gift bag with $200 in Meijer gift cards and some police memorabilia.
Click on the video to hear some of Bill's 911 call and officers race to save Judy.
