A rare British Columbia Firefighter Medal of Bravery has been bestowed upon a 22-year veteran of the Burnaby Fire Department for saving a man’s life during a house fire.

In the early morning on March 30, 2018, firefighters were called to a residence on fire on Sumas Street in Burnaby.

Although the firefighters were informed that the resident was out of the house, Capt. Wade Robertson saw the resident re-enter the home around 1 a.m.

Robertson ran after the man, through heavy fire and smoke, and found the resident hanging on to a railing inside.

Robertson then pried the man’s hands off the railing and carried him to safety.

The resident was treated at the scene and taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and burns while Robertson suffered some minor burns.

Global News reported that the resident was discovered to be a hoarder who wanted to go back into the house to retrieve his possessions.

“It’s truly an honour to be able to congratulate someone who so selflessly put himself in harm’s way to protect a life,” B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth stated in a news release on November 2. “Captain Robertson went above and beyond the normal call of duty, and he is an example of the best of what B.C.’s outstanding firefighters have to offer.”

The award, from the B.C. Office of the Fire Commissioner, is given to firefighters who have performed acts of courage and bravery without concern for their own personal safety.

Only four of these awards have been given out over the past decade, according to a B.C. government news release.