Eight firefighters and 14 police officers, including a Sudbury firefighter, will be awarded Ontario's top honours for bravery by the Province of Ontario.
Firefighter Michel Roland Proulx of the Greater Sudbury Fire Services will be among recipients of the Ontario Medal of Firefighter Bravery during a Queen's Park ceremony on Jan. 18 that will also honour seven other firefighters and bestow 14 police officers with the Ontario Medal of Police Bravery. These medals are the province's highest award in recognition of firefighters and police officers whose actions demonstrate outstanding courage and bravery in the line of duty.
Proulx is being honoured for his actions on March 29, 2007 when he was awoke by his dog barking only to see the residence across the street was on fire with flames exiting the front doors. He quickly put on the bunker gear he kept at his residence and ran to the burning house. Three bystanders indicated that someone was still inside.
Before Proulx could do anything, one of the bystanders entered the house to help the person left inside, but he collapsed because of intense smoke and flames. Without the aid of a breathing apparatus, Proulx entered the building and retrieved him.
Proulx had to repeat this process twice to retrieve the other two bystanders who had also entered the building to retrieve the man still inside. Addition firefighters arrived on scene a few moments later. Proulx donned a breathing apparatus and joined the rescue operations. Sadly the man they were trying to rescue succumbed to his injuries.
An independent body of citizens representing all regions of Ontario determines medal recipients. A total of 175 Ontario Medals for Firefighter Bravery have been awarded since 1976 and 195 Ontario Medals for Police Bravery have been awarded since 1975
