Peoria firefighter, who rescued man from house fire, awarded Medal of Valor

A firefighter with the Peoria Fire-Medical Department received the National Medal of Valor award from President Donald Trump Tuesday.

Stephen Gunn, a department engineer, received the award in a White House ceremony for rescuing a man from a burning house in April 2016.

The Peoria Fire-Medical Department, along with other jurisdictions, responded to the house fire near 75th Avenue and Thunderbird Road.

The first reports indicated the incident was a home invasion and arson fire, which spread quickly through the house, Tim Eiden, a spokesman for the Peoria Fire-Medical Department said in a press release.

Peoria Engine 193 was the first unit to arrive and found a house engulfed in flames with people trapped inside, Eiden said. 

Gunn was the first and nearest firefighter at the scene. He entered the house through a blown-out picture window in the front of the house and crawled into the fire to rescue those trapped inside, according to Eiden. 

"For nearly 40 seconds, firefighter Gunn worked inside the blaze, helmet melting, turnouts blackening and skin burning," Eiden said.

Gunn was able to pass the man to his captain before the room flashed in fire, Eiden said.

Gunn suffered burns and injuries and was treated at the Arizona Burn Center, but returned to his next shift, Eiden said.

The Medal of Valor, created in 2001 by Congress, recognizes extraordinary acts of heroism and bravery on the part of our nation's public safety officers. It is the highest award for valor a public safety officer can receive, fire officials said.

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