{"id":74,"date":"2026-05-11T11:03:55","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T11:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=74"},"modified":"2026-05-11T11:03:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T11:03:55","slug":"heres-how-you-can-help-keys-officers-hospitalized-after-fire-destroys-their-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=74","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s how you can help Keys officers hospitalized after fire destroys their home"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

BIG PINE KEY, Fla. \u2014 The Monroe County sheriff and Key West police chief are rallying support for a police officer couple who narrowly escaped a house fire that destroyed their home and left both hospitalized with burns and smoke inhalation.<\/p>\n

Read more MCSO: Port Charlotte woman charged after striking deputy in Florida Keys<\/a><\/p>\n

Leer en espa\u00f1ol<\/p>\n

Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said Thursday\u2019s early morning blaze forced the couple to jump from a window as their Big Pine Key home became engulfed in flames, leaving them with nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wake up in the middle of the morning, your house is fully engulfed. (They) dove out the window having to leave everything they owned. Their animals perished in the fire,\u201d Ramsay said. \u201cThis is a sad situation for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple \u2014 MCSO Deputy Tiffany Rodda and her fianc\u00e9, Key West Police Department Officer Mike Pettee, a member of the department\u2019s motor unit \u2014 were injured in the fire.<\/p>\n

Ramsay said he wrapped Rodda in a blanket and gave her a shirt and slacks from his car as she was being loaded onto the Trauma Star helicopter \u2014 a gesture he said underscored how the couple \u201cquite literally have nothing\u201d left after the fire.<\/p>\n

KWPD Chief Sean Brandenburg described Pettee as a dedicated officer who routinely goes beyond expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cOfficer Pettee goes above and beyond any time you call on him, anytime you need help,\u201d Brandenburg said. \u201cThere is not going to be anything usable inside that residence and the residence itself is probably going to be completely torn down and rebuilt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ramsay said he met the couple at the loading zone of MCSO\u2019s Trauma Star helicopter as they were being airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw them both. I gave her a big hug and told her that is one of the most difficult times of your life but we are here for you,\u201d Ramsay said. \u201cYou are going to get through this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brandenburg said both officers are expected to face a long recovery.<\/p>\n

Ramsay added that the couple, who have five children from prior relationships, lost all personal belongings in the fire, including family mementos, photos, awards and children\u2019s drawings.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth are really hard-working officers, dedicated their life to protect others, and in a moment everything you have is gone,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have got a long road to recovery, so we are just trying to come together as a law enforcement community as a community overall.\u201d<\/p>\n

Officials said no children were home at the time of the fire.<\/p>\n

Ramsay also thanked the Trauma Star crew and local responders for the emergency transport.<\/p>\n

Read more Driver faces charges in 2024 crash that killed 3 Palm Beach County deputies, authorities say<\/a><\/p>\n

Community members and fellow officers have begun organizing fundraising efforts to assist with medical costs, temporary housing, food and other basic needs during recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have spent their lives supporting everyone else,\u201d a fundraiser organized by colleagues said. \u201cEvery donation will go directly toward helping Mike, Tiffany, and their children recover, heal, and begin again.\u201d<\/p>\n

KWPD Officer Jesse Young, Pettee\u2019s riding partner and vice president of the agency\u2019s Love Fund, said the situation is especially difficult because it involves one of their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe deal with emergencies on a daily basis. It really kind of hits home when it is one of your own, one of your close friends,\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n

The Love Fund assists department members facing personal crisis situations, operating on the idea that \u201ceven heroes need help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Young said the goal is to provide support with no expectation of repayment so officers can focus on recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a gift and not have any obligation to repay, with the intent that the officer does not have to worry about financial constraints so they can get healthy, get well, and be able to come back to serve our community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Donations are now being accepted to assist Pettee and Rodda as they recover from the fire and rebuild their lives.<\/p>\n

Checks can be mailed to the 100 Club, located at 455-122 St. Ocean, Marathon, Fla. 33050. Venmo: @LoveKWPD.<\/p>\n

Officials say all proceeds go directly to the couple and are fully tax deductible.<\/p>\n

Read more Beagles from controversial Wisconsin facility brought to South Florida rescue<\/a><\/p>\n

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A Monroe County sheriff and Key West police chief are rallying support for a police officer couple who narrowly escaped a house fire that destroyed their home and left both hospitalized with burns and smoke inhalation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":73,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nHere\u2019s how you can help Keys officers hospitalized after fire destroys their home - South Florida Moving Guides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=74\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Here\u2019s how you can help Keys officers hospitalized after fire destroys their home - 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