Firefighters honored for saving life

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The Dayton Fire Department held its Recognition and Awards Ceremony Friday night.  Dozens of firefighters and paramedics were honored.

They risk their lives for our community everyday.   Four of those firefighters were honored for their quick-thinking on a hot summer day that helped save a woman's life.

When firefighters arrived at the home on Alaska Street in August 2011, flames had fully engulfed it, trapping 74-year-old Elizabeth King inside.

"They were looking at a person that they thought was going to die right there at their feet," says firefighter Brian Jay.

The firefighters experienced several obstacles during the rescue as they struggled to get the unconscious elderly woman out of the burning home.

"That particular room had a lot of books and magazines and stuff so the footing was uneven, you couldn't get any footing to try to lift her.  There was only one way in and one way out which was a window." explains Cpt. Brad Baldwin.

But that window was several feet of the ground so firefighters had to come up with another way.

"I looked inside the window and I said you guys aren't going to get her up.  I said I'm going to cut a doorway so I can get her out," comments Jay.

Because of their life-saving efforts that day, Captain Bradley Baldwin, Lt. Raymond Bush and Firefighters Brian Jay and James Cline received the Distinguished Service Award Friday night.

And the humble heroes say they would do it again in a heartbeat.

"I've been doing this for over 30 years, probably this is the highest recognition I've gotten.  It's nice to know that people appreciate what you do for a living," explains Jay.

"It's a good feeling.  You know, to save somebody's life but if the same thing happened everyday, we would do it everyday.  It's just what we do," says Cpt. Baldwin.

King survived but she was hospitalized because of smoke inhalation for a few days after the fire.