Vic firies receive bravery medals

23rd November 2009

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THREE firefighters who risked their lives to rescue an injured workmate from a blazing building have received historic bravery medals.

The men are the first in 50 years to be awarded Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) valour medals.

Leading firefighters Mark Fincher and Brian O'Connell and senior firefighter Russell Johnson were presented with their medals at a ceremony in Melbourne on Monday.

The men were battling a fire at a Yarraville furniture factory, in Melbourne's inner west, on October 12, 2007, when leading firefighter Richard Zapart suffered life-threatening burns.

They rushed back into the burning building to rescue him, suffering injuries in the process.

"Although they sustained personal injuries, they never once wavered from the task at hand, displaying immense courage," Police Minister Bob Cameron said.

"These three men heroically risked their own lives in order to save that of a colleague and they are deserving recipients of the first MFB valour medals since 1959."

Mr Cameron said firefighters must display an act of conspicuous bravery in circumstances of great peril to qualify for a valour medal.