Honor guard Airmen save three from car fire Published July 9, 2004 By Tech. Sgt. Rob Mims Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs DENVER (AFPN) -- An Independence Day tragedy was averted July 4 by three Air Reserve Personnel Center Honor Guard members who were returning here from a ceremony July 3 in South Dakota.As Staff Sgts. Shelly Dapp, Louis Deanda and Juan Williams were entering the outskirts of Denver around 4 p.m., they noticed a sport utility vehicle with smoke and liquid fire coming from under it. After the driver of the burning SUV pulled over because of engine failure, Sergeants Dapp and Deanda sprung into action. “We didn’t even think about it,” Sergeant Dapp said. “We just got out and ran to the vehicle.”The Airmen told Jaquelyn Jimenez, who is due in less than a week with twins, that her vehicle was on fire and to get out. She told them there were two young children in the back seat as flames began to leap from under the hood. Sergeant Deanda immediately opened the door and took 4-year-old Michael, and Sergeant Dapp took 2-year-old Jordan out of harms way. As they rushed the children to safety, Sergeant Williams called 911. Seemingly unaware of the severity of what was happening, Ms. Jimenez continued getting some personal items and fireworks from the vehicle. Sergeants Dapp and Deanda told her to get away from the vehicle for her own safety. As the vehicle became more engulfed, the front tires, windshield and back glass exploded. “The inside melted into a puddle,” Sergeant Dapp said. When firefighters arrived nine minutes after they were called, the SUV was “fully involved,” said Rick Bush, fire department spokesman.Sergeant Deanda said even though the trio had had a long trip from South Dakota, they said they all felt “really good knowing we saved lives on the Fourth of July.”