White Settlement, TX, USA – Police officers responded quickly to a fire that broke out early Monday morning at the Red Roof Inn motel, rescuing guests before firefighters arrived.

The fire started around 5:25 a.m. while most guests were still asleep. Sgt. John Banner, on patrol nearby, noticed smoke and found two rooms fully engulfed in flames.

Officers began kicking in doors and alerting guests to evacuate immediately. Body camera footage shows them coughing through smoke, shouting warnings, and navigating falling debris as they moved through the building.

At the rear of the motel, officers found a man asleep and unaware of the fire. They quickly evacuated him along with other guests.

Motel guest Martin Juarez recalled hearing loud bangs and breaking glass while feeling the intense heat as officers helped everyone escape. “You could feel the heat definitely… the plastic was falling on us,” he said.

Officer Wesley Gregory and others rushed through smoky hallways, knocking on doors to get guests out before the fire could spread. Gregory said, “Between life and death… it’s very important. In a matter of seconds, it could’ve gone to more rooms and potentially lives could’ve been taken.”

No injuries or deaths were reported. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire, which was determined to be arson.

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