Collinsville Fire Department issued the following announcement on May 14.
Lieutenant Eric Schrage received The Medal of Honor - the highest award given to firefighters by the State of Illinois for the following incident:
On September 23, 2017, while driving to his son’s baseball game, Lt. Schrage observed smoke and fire emitting from a first floor apartment on St. Louis Road. He stopped, determined that there were residents still in the apartment, and called 911 to report the fire and strike a box alarm.
He then handed the phone to his wife and went into the burning building without his gear or a hose line to locate the trapped individual. He was able to get the disoriented person out of the apartment and even thought to close the door of the building on his way out to limit the fire extension into other apartments, thereby preventing additional damage and property loss.
After assessing the victim, he waited with her until the ambulance and fire crews arrived and informed them of the details of the fire.
Lt. Schrage’s actions on this day reflect on the quality of person he is and the people we have on the Collinsville Fire Department. As the Fire Chief I could not be more proud of Lt. Schrage for the risk he took to aid citizens of our community who were in need.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Collinsville Fire Department
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