Tuesday, September 25 2012 8:46 PM EDT2012-09-26 00:46:30 GMT
A man who spotted a house fire off County Road 5 in Nowthen, Minn. stopped his car, smashed a window and dragged a woman outside, likely saving her life.
A man who spotted a house fire off County Road 5 in Nowthen, Minn. stopped his car, smashed a window and dragged a woman outside, likely saving her life.
ANOKA, Minn. (KMSP) -
Two men received Citizen Awards of Honor from the Anoka County sheriff on Monday for their courageous actions to rescue a woman from a house fire in Nowthen, Minn., last month.
On Sept. 23, the home of Diane Evans caught fire on the 195th block of Nowthen Boulevard NW. The two men who were driving to work at the time saw the smoke and flames and stopped to help.
Both men put their own lives at risk by entering the burning home to rescue Evans, although none of them had ever met. Evans was found unconscious near the front door.
"It happened so fast," rescuer Mike Coolidge said. "I tried the window, I opened the door -- the door wouldn't open. Something was blocking the door to where I couldn't get it all the way open, but I could see her feet so I had to give it a good shoulder."
Diane Evans is still in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center. She suffered burns to her arms and face, as well as smoke inhalation.
