Bravery all in a day's work for force's fire rescue heroes
PLUCKY police officers who helped save a Willington man from a house fire have shrugged off praise.Acting sergeant Tony Elliott, 31, PC William Crampsie, 30, and Pc Niall Brown, 43, were presented with certificates from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire at the Civic Centre, Crook, on Wednesday evening.
The three men, who often work the same shifts, were called to a raging fire at a house on Birch Street, Willington, last April.
Remembering that night, PC William Crampsie said: ³At the time we spoke to residents who were adamant that there was somebody in that house.
³There was a wall of smoke but we just kept going in.² The heat and smoke eventually forced the men to withdraw but when the fire crew arrived they were able to give them a detailed lay out of the house, enabling the firefighters to rescue the male occupant from a ground floor bathroom.
PC Niall Brown said: ³We feel very privileged, honoured and proud to have these certificates.² Acting Sgt Elliott said: ³We¹re definitely a good team but at the end of the day, we were just doing our job.²