A York security officer has been commended for his bravery and quick thinking after saving a woman from a fire.
In the early hours of 7 March, Jamie Warters received a distress call regarding a fire in one of the rooms in James House, off James Street.
Jamie alerted the emergency services then went to the room to investigate.
When he opened the door to Room 4, he was met by flames.
Yet without hesitation he went in and rescued the woman occupant, getting her safely from the building.
The woman was taken to York Hospital but sustained no injuries thanks to Jamie’s quick actions.
When firefighters arrived, Jamie helped with the prompt evacuation of the remaining 180 residents, many of whom were disabled, and kept them calm throughout the ordeal.
Once the fire was out and it was deemed safe, the residents were allowed back to their rooms.
However, due to heavy fire damage, Room 4 wasn’t safe and the occupant was unable to return.
‘Truly inspiring’
Jamie, who works for Gough & Kelly security services, said: “When I received the call, I knew the occupant was in immediate danger.
“I called the emergency services and did my best to get her out of the building.
“I knew this tense situation may also put me in danger, but I knew I had to be proactive in getting both the occupant and other residents out of there as it was a life-threatening situation.”
Emily Johnson, temporary accommodation manager at City of York Council adds: “I can’t speak highly enough of the way Jamie managed the situation at James House.
“His courage, quick thinking, and decisive action for the safety and well-being of residents is truly inspiring.”
Richard Cuff, operations manager at Gough & Kelly said: “We were devastated to learn about the fire at James House, but Jamie’s bravery throughout the ordeal is commendable.”
James House opened four years ago. It has 57 self-contained one-, two- and three-bedroomed apartments for homeless people in York.
“Jamie is responsible for general safety, access control, and welfare of the residents at James House,” Richard said.
“Thanks to his bravery and the emergency services, nobody was injured. He has always taken great pride in his work and is a highly valued member of the team.”
Management for James House has been fully briefed on the incident, and all necessary protocols have been followed. The fire alarm system has been restored, and further investigations are underway.