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Last updated on Tuesday, April 16, 2013
(BEDFORD) - Letters of Commendation were awarded to Bedford Fire Department Lieutenant Brent Allen, Lieutenant Jay Faubion and Senior Firefighter Bruce Deckard at the Bedford Board of Works meeting Monday afternoon.
Chief Jon Wagner says the men were being honored for pulling a man from a burning home in the 1800 block of F Street, March 29.
"It was their heroic efforts that saved one of our citizens," Wagner says. "I know it is their job, but it takes courage and the willingness to enter and face their fears and those of the victim that allowed them to enter that house and save this resident."
Battalion Chief John Dixon says, the man was found just inside the front door.
A neighbor, former police officer Mark Duncan noticed the fire and called it in at 12:04 a.m. Smoke was coming out the eves of the home and a man was trapped inside. The home is owned by Audi Baer and was being rented by the man.
Firefighters found the door locked, so Faubion and Deckard used an axe and entered the home.
Faubion crawled in through the heavy smoke and fire and saw the man's arm extending toward the door. He grabbed him and dragged him toward the porch. That is when Deckard helped him get the man onto the porch and then into the yard where Firefighter Allen began giving the man first aid.
Wagner says the man suffered burns to his legs and feet.
Dixon says the man was unresponsive, but then came around and was treated by an IU Health Bedford Hospital ambulance crew.
In the meantime firefighters entered the home and extinguished the fire that was in the front room.
The fire was started after the man fell asleep with a lit cigarette and caught the mattress he was sleeping on and the carpet on fire.
Wagner says if it was not for the quick action of Duncan and firefighters the man could have died in the fire.
"Within seconds this man could have lost his life," Allen says. "He wouldn't be here if Mr. Duncan had not alerted us and we were able to get him out."
Mayor Shawna Girgis praised the firefighters for their actions.
"I just want to say thank you," She added. "I know you are all very humble, but acts like thims make it an exceptionally proud day to be mayor of this city. You make us proud."
In other business the board:
Approved the request of Bedford Police Chief Dennis Parsley to approve the permanent promotion of Officer Timothy Chen to the position of sergeant. Chen has successfully held the position for a six month probation period.
Approved the police department's standardized procedures of the department's mobile personal video recorders.
Granted the renewal of a passenger zone at 1312 K Street.
Approved the final plat for Gerald and Alberta Minor to sell the house and two acres of land in their Bent Minor subdivision on Leatherwood road.
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