Groton — When two people struggled to get out of their burning North Road home Wednesday evening, it was a town police officer who entered and rescued them.

That’s contrary to what Poquonnock Bridge Fire Chief Joseph Winski initially reported — an “honest mistake” for which he profusely apologized.

“The last thing I want to do is take credit for something we shouldn’t have,” he said by phone Thursday.

Firefighters were called to the fire at 62 North Road about 6:30 p.m. According to town police Chief Louis J. Fusaro Jr., Officer Eric Korteweg was first on scene.

Korteweg saw heavy smoke coming from the right rear of the home and decided to enter, Fusaro said.

Inside, Korteweg found an elderly man struggling to get out and a younger woman in a smoky room, crouched on all four limbs.

Korteweg acted swiftly, Fusaro said, and got both people out of the house. At that point, firefighters had arrived on scene and began rendering aid to the pair.

Officials later learned the woman was the man’s daughter. She had been trying to help him flee the home.

“This isn’t something we do all the time,” Fusaro said. “This is what I would characterize as heroic action on the part of one of our officers. I’m very proud of that. (Korteweg’s) very humble about it, but it’s a big deal.”

According to Winski, a medical issue hindered the man from escaping the home. Crews transported him to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries he obtained while being removed from the house.

Winski said the first version of events he gave — he credited firefighters with entering the home — is what someone had reported to him. He called police Thursday to apologize and set the record straight.

“I’m very proud of everybody that was there,” he said, “but I want credit to go where it’s due.”

The single-family house sustained fire, heat and smoke damage, Winski said, and is uninhabitable. The Red Cross is assisting three displaced residents.

l.boyle@theday.com