Four people who assuredly saved countless lives during a nighttime fire earlier this year were honoured by city council, Monday night.
Halie Thomas and her husband Rory Bell, his brother Cordell Bell and Christopher Cobb were each presented with the city’s Award of Merit.
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman noted the award recognizes extraordinary actions which contributed to saving lives.
“It is not an award that we give out lightly or often, but on this occasion there were several individuals whose actions clearly saved lives,” Lehman said.
The April 23 fire caused $3.5 million in damages and displaced 70 residents living in 23 units at 100 Little Ave., at the intersection of Bayview Avenue. Flames were shooting through the roof and firefighters battled the blaze for several hours.
Thomas, 26, was out walking her dog that night when she heard an explosion. She ran into the building to get her young family out, pulled the fire alarm and called 911.
“I can still hear it vividly,” she said as she recounted what happened that night.
She and her husband, Rory Bell, along with his 17-year-old brother Cordell, went floor to floor banging on doors trying to rouse residents and get them out of the burning building.
“It’s hard to look back now,” said Rory Bell, who also credited his younger brother for what he did that night.
“There are not many 17-year-olds who would run into a burning building five times,” he said.
No one was seriously injured in the fire.
Rory Bell said they have been able to find new accommodations.
“The whole family is pitching in to help. It’s really been overwhelming, all of the help,” he said.
Lehman said more people will be recognized in the future for what they did that night and in the days afterward, including fundraising and collecting items for residents, many of whom were left with nothing.
“This was truly an incident that had a lot of people contribute to make sure people had what they needed,” the mayor said.
