A Chatham-Kent police officer who pulled a man from a house fire earlier this year is receiving the highest level of recognition from the province.
Constable Fraser Curtis has been honoured with an Ontario Medal for Police Bravery.
According to police, Curtis was called to a house fire on May 7, 2016 when his patrol car was flagged down and directed towards a building that had thick black smoke pouring out of the second story windows.
Curtis entered the building alone and even though he couldn't see anyone, he did hear someone coughing inside.
Police say as the apartment continued to fill up with smoke, Curtis crawled along the floor in the hallway and managed to find a man who was "conscious and lying on the floor, wearing nothing but his boxers, covered in soot, very intoxicated, belligerent and disoriented."
Officers say that man had passed out while he was trying to cook something on the stove.
Initially, the man didn't want to leave the apartment, but Curtis was able to pick the man up and carry him out of the building to safety.
Police Chief Gary Conn says he was very pleased to endorse Curtis for the medal.
"All our officers are heroes amongst us, but clearly Constable Fraser's actions went beyond the call of duty," says Conn. "His actions further support and exemplify 'why' we chose to become police officers and enter into such an honourable vocation."
