Derbyshire’s top firefighter has hailed five Shirebrook students as heroes after commending them for coming to the rescue of an elderly man trapped in his burning home.

Terry McDermott, chief fire officer of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the teenagers saved lives while risking their own safety to help the man, who was confined to his bed and unable to move when the fire took hold.

The fire chief praised Year 11 students, Farren Walters, 15, Archie Ashton, 15, Josua Jope, 16, Liam Gladwin 16, and Brandon Butler, 16, when he attended a special assembly at their school, Shirebrook Academy, to award them commendations.

Terry told the assembly how the teenagers had been walking to Shirebrook train station when they spotted smoke billowing from the roof of a bungalow on Rockley Way.

While they were standing outside the front door, the students heard cries for help coming from the garden and they jumped over a fence.

There they found two people struggling to wheel the man, who was confined to a hospital-style bed, out of the back door.
The students entered the building and helped to lift the bed out and help the man to safety.

The other people, Derbyshire police officers Sgt Nicola Clark and Pc Tim Clark, who were both off-duty at the time, also received commendations.

Mr McDermott said: “It has been a privilege to honour the bravery of several outstanding young people and two off-duty police officers who came to the rescue of a vulnerable gentleman and his wife when a fire broke out in their home.

“In the event of a fire the most important advice we give to people is to get out and stay out, but on this occasion, one of the occupants of the bungalow was extremely vulnerable as he was confined to bed and unable to do this.

“This would have been a very distressing experience for the gentleman and his wife, but thanks to the quick thinking, bravery and strength of the off-duty police officers and young people, everyone was able to get out to safety before the arrival of fire crews.

“This is an excellent example of our communities looking out for each other and coming together in a time of crisis.”

Describing the rescue, Archie said that even though they weren’t the only ones at the scene, none of them had any hesitation about getting involved.

He said: “It was very hot and dangerous inside, and you could hear the fire in the roof. There was smoke everywhere, but we all wanted to help so we didn’t think about our own safety.

“I feel proud of what we’ve done. It’s good to be told that we’ve helped the community.”

Firefighters from Shirebrook extinguished the blaze, which had started in a tumble dryer and spread to the bungalow’s roof space.

Sergeant Clark added: “There was no way that Tim and I would have been able to lift the bed on our own, so we couldn’t have got the man out of the house without the lads.

“It was a dangerous situation for everyone involved, so they thoroughly deserve their recognition.”

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service reminded everyone about the importance of having a smoke alarm fitted on every level of a home.