Two Saskatoon men receive Award of Merit for saving residents from house fire

On Nov. 17, 2022, Aaron Lange and Mike Napper took matters into their own hands and saved residents from a house fire.

On Friday, their efforts were recognized by the Saskatoon Fire Department with the Award of Merit.

Fire Chief Morgan Hackl said on that November morning, the department received a call about visible flames from a home on Seventh Avenue North. Fire crews were greeted at the scene with heavy smoke and fire, and the home’s back porch had collapsed.

“But prior to crews arriving, Aaron and Mike made some critical decisions that day,” Hackl said, adding those decisions saved lives.

That morning, Napper was driving back to his shop when he noticed the fire. A car was in the house’s driveway and lights were on throughout the house, but nobody could be seen in or around the house, Hackl said.

Lange stepped in to help by banging on the doors and windows. Hackl said the two entered the home to find people in the basement, one of whom is visually impaired.

The two men helped the basement tenants out of the house and to safety.

“Not everyone can think clear in an emergency situation,” Hackl explained, noting the two men took all the right steps according to the fire department: Calling 911, telling neighbours and leading victims to safety.

“It was quick. We were in and out of there in minutes,” Napper said.

Lange described those two minutes as an “adrenaline moment.” He said it was a matter of being at the right place at the right time, and doing what anyone would have done.

“The actions like these taken by Mike and Aaron remind us how important community is,” Hackl said. “It takes the help of an entire community to make a difference together.”