Four firefighters and five police officers are getting Ontario’s top honours for bravery at a ceremony at Queen’s Park.
Among the recipients is an Owen Sound Police Constable.
The Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery and the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery are the province’s highest honour in recognition of actions that demonstrate outstanding courage.
Lieutenant governor David Onley was on hand to present the awards on Monday night.
Constable Brian Follis of the Owen Sound police service was first to arrive at the scene of a fire in a three-story, commercial and residential building at Around the Sound.
Flames and smoke were visible from the upper floors of the building and a citizen, who had already rescued a baby from one apartment, told him that two other people were still inside.
Constable Follis rushed up an exterior metal stairway as burning embers began falling from above.
A woman fleeing down the stairway told him her boyfriend was still inside.
Constable Follis tried to enter the apartment but was prevented by heavy smoke and flames.
On his second attempt he discovered an incoherent male lying at the top of the stairs.
He dragged the man down the stairwell to a landing next to the exterior stairway where two women were standing helpless.
Flame and burning debris now blocked the stairway making it impassable.
Constable Follis alerted the fire department to the conditions and helped all three to a second storey breezeway where firefighters had raised a ladder.
Only after assisting all others and was confident the building was clear did Constable Follis escape down the ladder.
Officials say his quick intervention and perseverance avoided at least one fatality.
>>>
The recipients of the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery are:
Constable Brian Follis of the Owen Sound Police Service
Constable Michael Mavity of the Peel Regional Police
Provincial Constable Ken DeCloet of the OPP Norfolk County Detachment
Constable Nicholas Moland-Osborne of the Timmins Police Service
Provincial Constable Jacques Thibeault of the OPP Russell County Detachment
The recipients of the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery are:
Firefighter Dave Evans of the Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services
Firefighter Timothy Howson of the Timmins Fire Department Voluntary Brigade
Firefighter Jim Lavoie of the Timmins Fire Department
Firefighter Gilles Leduc of the Timmins Fire Department
