EMPORIUM, Pa. —
Four men were honored Wednesday morning after saving a woman from her burning home back in December.
The fire happened on Dec. 27 along Allegany Avenue in Emporium.
Officials said 28-year-old Krista Losey was trapped inside of the burning structure that was split into multiple apartments.
Losey had been bedridden and on a respirator due to ongoing health issues.
Trooper Brian Harmon of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop-F in Emporium said that he remembers the day like it was yesterday.
Harmon said that he was off that day and was driving through town to stop at a business.
While he was traveling through town he said that he noticed smoke billowing out of a building that he knew Losey had been living in.
"I had known that she was handicapped and had a wheel chair. So, seeing that heavy smoke coming out of there -- I knew something was up," Harmon said.
After spending more than 20 years in law enforcement Harmon said he didn't think twice before going into the building to rescue the woman.
"With the heavy smoke I crawled inside on my hands and knees trying to look around. I hollered her name, Krista, a couple of times. No response," Harmon said.
Later everyone would learn that 28-year-old Krista Losey was inside the building trapped inside of her first floor apartment.
"There was a neighbor outside screaming kind of carrying on that someone was in there," said Ronald Hammersley.
Hammersley was among the three other men that would soon run to help Harmon.
"Someone would crawl in there on their hands and knees. When that person came out somebody else would go back in. Each one of us made several attempts to do that," Harmon said.
Andy Zimmer, who was shoveling snow nearby also ran to help out.
"The fact that she was still in there...and she needed help. I would do that for anyone," Zimmer said.
Eventually the men were successful and carried the woman out of the burning building.
On Wednesday morning Harmon, Hammersley, Zimmer and Scott Knarr were recognized by the Pennsylvania State Police.
All four men received an outstanding citizenship award from the office of the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, Frank Noonan.
"Their actions on Dec. 27 were not only above and beyond what a normal citizen would do, but it is something that should be recognized by the state police," said Pennsylvania State Police Troop-F captain, David Young.
Looking back at things now, all of the men said that day they didn't think twice about their lives being in danger.
The men said what mattered most was trying to get Losey out safely.
"You don't really have time to think. You just go. Then when it's all over it's like anything could have happened," Knarr said.
While Losey did recover from her injuries, the 29-year-old passed away in May due to ongoing health complications.
Losey's family members were too emotional to do an interview, but said they are thankful for the four men who helped Losey in December.
The fire happened on Dec. 27 along Allegany Avenue in Emporium.
Officials said 28-year-old Krista Losey was trapped inside of the burning structure that was split into multiple apartments.
Losey had been bedridden and on a respirator due to ongoing health issues.
Trooper Brian Harmon of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop-F in Emporium said that he remembers the day like it was yesterday.
Harmon said that he was off that day and was driving through town to stop at a business.
While he was traveling through town he said that he noticed smoke billowing out of a building that he knew Losey had been living in.
"I had known that she was handicapped and had a wheel chair. So, seeing that heavy smoke coming out of there -- I knew something was up," Harmon said.
After spending more than 20 years in law enforcement Harmon said he didn't think twice before going into the building to rescue the woman.
"With the heavy smoke I crawled inside on my hands and knees trying to look around. I hollered her name, Krista, a couple of times. No response," Harmon said.
Later everyone would learn that 28-year-old Krista Losey was inside the building trapped inside of her first floor apartment.
"There was a neighbor outside screaming kind of carrying on that someone was in there," said Ronald Hammersley.
Hammersley was among the three other men that would soon run to help Harmon.
"Someone would crawl in there on their hands and knees. When that person came out somebody else would go back in. Each one of us made several attempts to do that," Harmon said.
Andy Zimmer, who was shoveling snow nearby also ran to help out.
"The fact that she was still in there...and she needed help. I would do that for anyone," Zimmer said.
Eventually the men were successful and carried the woman out of the burning building.
On Wednesday morning Harmon, Hammersley, Zimmer and Scott Knarr were recognized by the Pennsylvania State Police.
All four men received an outstanding citizenship award from the office of the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, Frank Noonan.
"Their actions on Dec. 27 were not only above and beyond what a normal citizen would do, but it is something that should be recognized by the state police," said Pennsylvania State Police Troop-F captain, David Young.
Looking back at things now, all of the men said that day they didn't think twice about their lives being in danger.
The men said what mattered most was trying to get Losey out safely.
"You don't really have time to think. You just go. Then when it's all over it's like anything could have happened," Knarr said.
While Losey did recover from her injuries, the 29-year-old passed away in May due to ongoing health complications.
Losey's family members were too emotional to do an interview, but said they are thankful for the four men who helped Losey in December.
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