Madri Sherman, a parole agent based out of the Ceres Parole Office, entered a smoke-filled house, saving two mobility-impaired residents and their dog.
Sherman has worked for the department since February 2007, holding various positions ranging from office assistant to correctional counselor and since 2017, a parole agent.
While leaving the office around 8 p.m. July 15, she saw a plume of smoke coming from a nearby street.
“I observed a huge cloud of thick, black smoke and immediately knew it was coming from the neighborhood across the street. At this time, there were no firetrucks or fire personnel. My initial reaction was to go check it out,” she said. “If it was a house fire, the potential for loss of life was great. At this point I was invested in whatever degree the situation was in.”
When she arrived, the side yard was on fire, melting the garage window and filling the structure with thick smoke. No emergency services were on scene, so she asked a group of bystanders for help. One stepped forward.
“The other person did not hesitate at all to assist me,” she said.
Searching house for residents
Sherman then entered the garage to gain access to the home and began calling out to see if anyone was inside.
“I knew time was of the essence. By the time I arrived, the inside of the house was engulfed in smoke. There was almost no visibility within five feet of me. My thoughts were focused on finding the residents in the house and bringing them to safety,” she said. “If I waited until the fire department got there, I believe the outcome would have been different. They did arrive expeditiously; however, the fire and the smoke was getting more intense by the minute.”
She said entering the smoke-filling garage and searching the house for residents was her only option.
“It wasn’t really a choice. I don’t think at any point I second guessed myself. I knew I was going to enter the residence regardless. The thought of the residents getting hurt or worse was my primary motivation to entering the home. Knowing I had the physical and mental ability to enter the residence in its current condition was more of a reason for me to act,” Sherman said. “Upon entering the home, it was nearly impossible to breathe. I would compare it to being under water. I was trying to breathe but I just could not physically inhale. There was a level of internal panic at that point but with my adrenaline being so high, I just pushed through it.”
Finds two elderly residents in smoke-filled home
She found an elderly gentleman in the master bathroom who was unaware of the fire. He began panicking and Sherman escorted him out of the home, keeping close to the floor. She then learned of an additional person in the home and reentered the house, now even more filled with smoke. Sherman found an elderly woman who was asleep in bed and quickly brought her to safety as well.
Both residents have medical conditions affecting their mobility. The family dog was also still inside, so Sherman entered the home a third time to retrieve the frightened pet who was hiding under a bed.
After retrieving the dog, the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The firefighters also evaluated the residents and Agent Sherman.
“I did have some tightness in my chest afterward, my eyes were burning and I had a sore throat for a few days. The firefighters did an excellent job evaluating me,” she said. “Ultimately, this resulted in a visit to the emergency room.”
After the incident, the gentleman hugged Sherman, referring to her as an angel.
“It was an emotional experience,” she said. “I am forever grateful they are OK.”
Sherman said what she did was not something she considers heroic, but it was the right thing to do.
“I’m just happy that I was at the right place at the right time and appreciative of the assistance I received from the one individual out of many bystanders who chose to assist me without question. This was a very fortunate outcome to what could have been catastrophic. I don’t feel like a hero,” she said. “It’s what anybody should have or would want to do in a situation like this. I am also incredibly thankful for the support I received from my supervisors who ensured I was OK. They also returned the scene after they had already made it home for the day. I am truly blessed beyond measure.”
Parole Agent Madri Sherman highlights
- 2007: Office assistant at Deuel Vocational Institution (DVI) in Tracy.
- 2008: After earning a bachelor’s degree in correctional science from California State University East Bay, she became an office technician assigned to the Northern California Youth Correctional Center in Stockton.
- Early 2009: She then transferred back to DVI.
- November 2009: Attended the Basic Correctional Juvenile Academy and was assigned to O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility.
- 2016: Promoted to correctional counselor, assigned to DVI.
- February 2017: Accepted into the Basic Parole Agent Academy. After graduating, she was assigned to the Stockton Parole Office in the Delta District. She held many roles while in Stockton including Reentry Court, Gender Responsive, California Parole Apprehension Team (CPAT), Overflow Gang Agent, and GPS Agent.
- April 2024: Transferred to Central District, currently assigned to the Ceres Parole Office.
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Photos by the Division of Adult Parole Operations
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