Wyoming man hailed as hero for rescuing child, unconscious mother, from burning home 

JAMESTOWN, Wyo. – A man driving to work Tuesday morning in Wyoming is being called a hero after he rescued a woman and her children from a burning home. 

Sweetwater County deputies said 32-year-old Ryan Pasborg was late for work but still stopped when he saw flames coming from the window of a home on Highway 374 in Jamestown early Tuesday morning. 

He saw a young girl and two boys walk out of the house where the temperature outside was below freezing. 

The children said their mother and four-year-old brother were still inside. A news release said Pasborg entered the house. The smoke inside was too thick for him to see anything so he crawled through the kitchen. He bumped into the little boy. 

He grabbed the child and took him outside to his siblings where he loaded all of them into his warm truck. The four children were 12, 8, 6, and 4-years-old. 

Pasborg told deputies he went back into the burning home and searched for the kids’ mother. He found the 34-year-old woman unconscious on the floor.  

The release said she was badly burned and it was difficult for her to breathe. Deputies said he dragged her outside but by then she was unresponsive and stopped breathing.  

He started CPR and the woman “suddenly took a gasp of air and sat up,” the release said. 

He drove the family to the edge of the highway where they waited for first responders. 

“You know, as a police officer, most of the stories I remember involve bystanders helping first responders in difficult situations,” said Deputy Jason Mower. “I think this is the first time in nearly 15 years of law enforcement that I’ve ever heard of a total stranger truly going above and beyond in a way and in a situation that many wouldn’t have dared to face.” 

“Not only is it a blessing in its own right that Mr. Pasborg was in the right place at the right time, but his willingness without second thought to risk his own life to help save this family was the difference between life and death for this young mother and her child; he gave them a fighting chance,” said Sheriff John Grossnickle 

“There are no words to adequately express the magnitude of Ryan’s bravery other than he is a perfect example of what it means to be a real hero,” Grossnickle added. “His actions speak volumes about the true content of his character, and people like Ryan are a testament to the overwhelming power and strength of community that we are so fortunate to share with one another as friends and neighbors here in Sweetwater County.” 

Deputies said Pasborg later went shopping for the family and delivered several hundred dollars in clothes and other items to the family while they stayed at their grandmother’s home. 

Investigators believe a hoverboard exploded inside the home and started the fire.