MORE: How 2 Middletown officers saved a couple from a burning home, which earned them a state honor
The award is given to the first responder who “at great personal risk to themselves, are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life or lives during an extreme emergency situation.”
On Jan. 27, Reece and Mooney entered a burning home at 311 Harlan St. and pulled Billie Thomas and her husband, John, to safety.
John Thomas was treated and released from Atrium Medical Center, while his wife was hospitalized for weeks due to severe burns on her left side and chest, said Middletown Fire Chief Paul Lolli.
Reece, a 10-year veteran and certified Field Training Officer, was riding with rookie officer Mooney when they heard over the scanner about a fire in the 300 block of Harlan Street with two people possibly trapped.
Upon arrival, Reece, 42, and Mooney, 26, saw heavy smoke rolling out the front door and discovered Billie Thomas on fire inside the home. Reece ran into the burning home, patted the flames out and dragged the woman out of the house, Lolli said.
Mooney found John Thomas in the home and led him out to safety, then assisted Reece , Lolli said.
Lolli said the officers’ “heroic actions” definitely saved the lives of the couple.
They were presented Heroism Awards by State Fire Marshal Jeff Hussey in May and that placed them into consideration for additional recognition at the State Fire Marshal’s annual Hall of Fame ceremony.
This was at least the second time Reece has been credited with potentially saving someone’s life. On June 11, 2017, Reece, while off-duty, performed CPR on an 8-year-old boy who was under the water and couldn’t make it to the edge of the pool. She instructed others to call 911 and continued to give CPR until the boy was revived.
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