Woodstock City Council has recognized one man for springing into action when a fire broke out on Hunter Street.
WOODSTOCK - A local hero has been presented with the Civic Award of Excellence for Caring and Safety.
Terry Stere was on his way home from work on Wednesday, November 23rd 2016 when noticed thick black smoke coming from 258 Hunter Street. Stere was with the Blandford Blenheim Fire Department for 15 years so when he saw the smoke he instantly knew something was wrong.
"I [saw] the smoke and I thought that it's either a poorly burning wood stove or a house fire. I went around the block and come back and then I [saw] the flames."
The flames in front of the home were arching about 10 to 15 metres above the roof line. Stere instantly called 911 and started banging on the doors and the windows of the home until he spotted one window that was slightly open.
"I was banging on the window and hollering in there and I heard a gentleman coughing. I said, 'Come to the window! Come to the window! You can get out through the window!' Last I heard was him say, 'Help me,' and then he went quiet."
When police arrived on scene he immediately informed them about the location of the man inside. When the fire department arrived they were able to safely retrieve a 30 year old unconscious man from the building.
A large crowd gave a standing ovation when Stere was presented with the award at Woodstock City Council. Stere tells Heart FM he wasn't expecting to be honoured.
"I really don't feel I needed an award. I just would hope that the general public would do the same given the same circumstances."
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