When York County auxiliary deputy Jason Patch went to the big island of Hawaii, his only intention was to see the lava flows from volcano Kilauea.
He did not envision breaking down the front door of a burning $400,000 home to make sure no one was inside — and definitely did not expect to make the news.
Last weekend, Patch appeared on a national news broadcast after he breached the front door of a home May 31, trying to locate any people or pets inside before nearby lava caused the home to burn down.
Patch was taking photos of the lava flow when he “jumped into action,” the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.
CBS News reports the home was in the Kapoho area, where about a dozen residents declined to evacuate after lava made its way toward the neighborhoods. Lava from the volcano has also destroyed the intersection of two highways, leaving many residents in the area no way out except by helicopter.
Patch volunteers as a courthouse deputy for the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office while also working full time as a defense contractor who sells ammunition.
Patch made connections with residents after arriving in Hawaii on May 26, allowing him to accompany them beyond military and police checkpoints outside the lava flow.
“I met a lady outside the town who wanted someone to take her back in to the town,” Patch explained. “And I also met some professional photographers at the airport.”
Patch was in the Leilani Estates neighborhood when he pulled up to an area where lava had cut across the street, causing a dead end.
Lava was flowing into the yard of one house near the dead end, and Patch smelled something “plasticy” burning.
“I said to myself, ‘That’s not lava,’” he recounted.
The York deputy found that radiant heat from the lava had caught the house on fire, and the home’s garden hose was not enough to extinguish it.
Days earlier at a gas station, Patch had seen a truck carrying two dogs and several other empty dog cages. The drivers told Patch they did not own the dogs, but were intending to rescue some pets that had been left behind following evacuation orders.
At the house in Leilani Estates, two dog bowls sat outside as Patch watched the house smolder.
Patch appeared on a national news station after he breached the front door of a home on May 31, trying to locate any people or pets inside before nearby lava caused the home to burn down. (WYDaily/Courtesy of Jason Patch)
“I felt bad kicking their door in; it was a pretty nice house,” he said. “But I wondered if people might be inside and they didn’t know the house was burning.”
Patch breached the front door and found no one inside except for a large, dead frog.
“You feel so helpless. You sit there and watch this $400,000 dollar house burn down,” he said.
After the incident, Patch described his experience in an interview with CBS News on Saturday.
“I went around the side, banged on the door a couple times, announced, you know, ‘sheriff’s department,’ then I breached the door,” Patch told the news crew.
Patch has previously worked to assist others after natural disasters. In September, Patch drove to Key West with a truck full of water and emergency supplies to help those affected by Hurricane Irma.
“People know I do this kind of stuff, but I swear, this time I just wanted to see the lava,” he said.
