- USPS truck caught fire after colliding with a sedan on Jan. 8.
- A bystander, Stephanie Burkhart Mabee, used a hammer, seat-belt cutter and fire extinguisher to pull the driver out.
- The sheriff’s office praised her quick action and shared body-cam footage.
Why it matters: The incident shows how ordinary citizens can make a life-saving difference in emergencies.
A harrowing incident unfolded in Parkland, Wash., on Jan. 8 when a USPS truck collided with a white sedan, igniting a blaze that threatened the lives of the driver and a passenger. Bystander Stephanie Burkhart Mabee, a local resident, stepped in and performed a daring rescue that was captured on body-cam footage released by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The Incident
The crash occurred on the 10600 block of Park Avenue South in Parkland. The USPS truck, a delivery vehicle, slammed into the sedan’s rear, sending the truck’s door inward and causing a fire that quickly spread through the cargo area. Both the mail truck driver and the sedan’s backseat passenger sustained injuries. The fire was intense but had not yet reached full flames when the bystander arrived.
Local authorities responded swiftly. A deputy from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and a volunteer fire crew arrived within minutes, but the heat made it difficult to extinguish the blaze with a standard fire extinguisher alone.
The Rescue
Mabee was driving nearby when she saw the smoke rising from the truck. She pulled out a hammer, a seat-belt cutter, and a fire extinguisher from her vehicle. “It was just really, really smoking,” she told CBS affiliate KIRO. “It wasn’t like in flames yet, but you could tell that it was getting ready to.”
Using the hammer, she broke the truck’s door handle, sliding the door open. She then cut the driver’s seat belt with the cutter, freeing him from the cramped interior. “I used the hammer to break the door handle in order to slide it open and then cut the driver’s seat belt to pull him out,” KIRO reported.
The deputy, meanwhile, attempted to douse the flames with the extinguisher. “He started with his fire extinguisher. And then we noticed the fire wasn’t going out. So we both ran back over to the guy and pulled the guy further away,” Mabee told KIRO.
The combined effort of Mabee and the deputy removed the driver from the burning vehicle and allowed the fire to be contained more effectively. The deputy’s presence also helped keep the scene secure while emergency services arrived.
Aftermath and Gratitude
Both the mailman and the sedan passenger were transported to nearby hospitals in serious condition. The sheriff’s office later issued a statement thanking Mabee and the Central Pierce Fire Department for their swift action. “Thank you to the female bystander who stopped to help and to Central Pierce Fire for all your great work,” authorities wrote.
Mabee reflected on the event, urging others not to remain passive in emergencies. “I would wish that if something was going on with somebody in my family or myself, that people wouldn’t just sit in their cars and watch,” she said, according to KIRO.
The body-cam footage has been widely shared, serving as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and community vigilance. The incident was reported by Amanda S. Bennett at News Of Los Angeles on January 23, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Quick thinking by a bystander can save lives in fire emergencies.
- Simple tools-a hammer, a seat-belt cutter, and a fire extinguisher-can be crucial during rescue.
- Local law enforcement and volunteer fire crews play a vital role in emergency response.
- Public sharing of body-cam footage can raise awareness and promote safety practices.
The story of Stephanie Burkhart Mabee’s heroic act underscores how ordinary citizens can become extraordinary when faced with danger. It also highlights the collaborative effort between civilians and emergency responders that ultimately saved a life.
