Wash — The Pierce County Sheriff's Office is investigating two suspicious deaths in Gig Harbor and asks for anyone with possible security video footage of the area to submit it The deaths happened in a home on the 15600 block of 14th Avenue NW between 7:15 p.m Investigators said the home had just been rented As firefighters worked to put out the flames deputies spoke to neighbors in the surrounding area who reported hearing a large explosion before the house burst into flames crews found two unidentified people dead inside the home The Pierce County Sheriff's Office said one of the deceased had a gunshot wound leading the agency to treat the deaths as suspicious Authorities are now asking the public to submit any security footage that captured traffic or suspicious activity along 14th Avenue NW and SE 160th Street on April 8 No other information is available at this time A Gig Harbor resident is reflecting on the dramatic rescue that earned him the Carnegie Medal for Heroism The award is given to those who enter extreme danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others was driving home late after finishing up his workday as a career transition coordinator for the Wounded Warrior Project he chatted on the phone with his little sister and nephew he noticed cars starting to pull off to the side of the road There's an overturned semitruck," Schmidt recollected A few people started to gather outside of the truck "I pulled my car off to the side of the road I don't know if somebody's still inside there.'" Someone was still inside — the driver was trapped and Schmidt could hear them calling out for help With the driver side pinned up against a guardrail Schmidt searched for any way to free the driver RELATED: After a tragic accident, a widow faces a lifetime of what-ifs A few other people had gathered around the truck Schmidt grabbed the hammer and jumped back over the guardrail The truck started melting onto Schmidt's sweatshirt and pants "It was like sticking my hands into an oven RELATED: Girl Scouts posthumously honor a 10-year-old Uvalde victim for heroism Another man approached the truck and joined Schmidt in an effort to pull the driver loose Schmidt says another bystander took off their sweatshirt or jacket to put out the remaining flames on the driver's body his skin and clothes were just "hanging" from his body Schmidt and two other men carried the driver away from the truck they could see the semitruck fully engulfed in flames and the driver was whisked to Harborview Medical Center a fire captain turned their attention toward Schmidt and his wounds After cutting his pants off and examining the burns on his legs and hands Schmidt was told he should go to the hospital as well "I don't have health insurance," Schmidt told the captain I'll just bring myself to the Seattle VA Medical Center.'" Schmidt says he was convinced to let the captain drive him to the VA center News outlets were scrambling to try to talk to Schmidt He just had one thing on his mind — was the driver going to make it His brother picked him up from the hospital A state trooper reached out to get his report on what happened that day and told him the prognosis of the driver wasn't looking good RELATED: Salman Rushdie And The Heroism Of Ordinary People The driver wasn't the only person battling a tough recovery Schmidt says he was undergoing his own struggles "I was dealing with things from the Marine Corps I had just got out of an eight-year relationship," he said Schmidt went back to his home state of Minnesota waiting for any word about the progress of the driver A state trooper called him a few days after he returned to Minnesota I just wanted to call to let you know he is gonna make it The driver and his wife wanted to talk to Schmidt Schmidt says he felt an "instant connection." "From what we had just been through together we really permanently bonded at that point," Schmidt said "It's like no one else could understand that situation that we shared with each other." Schmidt and the driver were able to swap stories about what happened that day the driver said he tried his best to get out but couldn't He stopped asking for help and started praying "And as he's finishing up that last prayer that's when the window smashes," Schmidt said "That's when I reach in and start tugging on him to pull him out of there." The driver told Schmidt he had been dreaming of him since the accident Schmidt continued to visit the driver in the hospital They watched Netflix together and ordered takeout you gave me another chance at life,'" Schmidt said Schmidt felt like it was finally time to heal from his past He traveled to Mexico and spent time with healers and medicine people "Just as much as this gentleman's thankful for me and really changed my trajectory in life," he said Schmidt says he wasn't comfortable talking about the accident initially Schmidt still works for the Wounded Warrior Project and he's preparing for a new role with the nonprofit related to mental health He says he feels honored to receive the Carnegie Medal Schmidt remains close friends with the driver and says he's a humble man who wishes to remain anonymous "He's doing tremendous things in his life," Schmidt said "And I'm very thankful for him and his family." Carnegie Medal winners receive a financial grant with their award and Schmidt says he may use the money to fund a trip to meet the family of the man he saved Noel is a general assignment reporter for KUOW covering everything from city hall to pickleball Noel worked as a producer for KUOW’s midday show Soundside Noel has also worked as an online editor and producer with KUOW’s web team and she’s also a proud graduate of KUOW’s RadioActive program nonprofit news organization that produces award-winning journalism — Two people were found dead after a reported explosion and subsequent fire at a home north of Gig Harbor Tuesday night Gig Harbor fire and Pierce County deputies went to the 15500 block of 14th Ave NW where they found a house engulfed in flames The bodies were taken to the medical examiner who will determine the victims' cause and manner of death as well as their identities Detectives and forensic technicians were at the scene to investigate “the suspicious nature of the fire and deaths,” according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Two Gig Harbor men whom firefighters found dead inside a burning rental home on April 8 died from gunshot wounds to their heads The Pierce County medical examiner’s office said Oliverio Huitron-Rosalez Pierce County sheriff’s office detectives could not release additional information because of their active investigation We don’t know if this was a murder-suicide,” Cappetto said by phone Wednesday “But we are investigating this as very suspicious.” Sheriff’s deputies and Gig Harbor firefighters responded to a home in the 15500 block of 14th Avenue Northwest after neighbors reported hearing a loud explosion then seeing the house engulfed in flames around 8 p.m Detectives and forensic investigators also responded after firefighters found Huitron-Rosalez and Campos inside the home The sheriff’s office asked residents of the area to submit surveillance camera footage of vehicles or people in the area that evening to help with their investigation have died in homicides in unincorporated Pierce County so far this year compared with four by the same time last year It’s unclear what’s behind the spike in homicides “The numbers are really staggering and really concerning,” she said Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser!