Commissioner’s Commendation for Bravery - Senior Deputy Captain James Angus Burge
Published Date: 04 May 2014
Summary
Senior Deputy Captain James Angus Burge - Stockinbingal Rural Fire Brigade, South West Slopes Zone, Region West
Commissioner’s Commendation for Bravery (Individual)
Senior Deputy Captain James Burge is from the Stockinbingal Rural Brigade, where he has been a member for the last 12 years.
On 8 December 2012 at approximately 1600hrs, James Burge was driving and noticed a house alight at 57 Berthong Street, Cootamundra.
James attempted to rescue a member of the public from the burning home, before other emergency services had arrived.
During the attempted rescue, James suffered a serious laceration to his left lower leg.
On arrival James identified that a person was inside the burning house. James attempted to gain entry to the house through a door but was unsuccessful due to a locked security screen.
James was able to gain entry by breaking a glass window along the side of the house with his left foot.
Upon entry to the house James suffered a serious laceration to his left calf, which severed ligaments to his left Achilles tendon, nerves and blood vessels.
James was treated on scene by ambulance officers and was transported to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital where he underwent surgery and spent over a week recovering.
James spent a further 12 weeks recovering at home following the incident and has since had two further surgeries on his left leg and foot in an attempt to regain the function of his lower leg in the long term.
Unfortunately, due to the severity of the fire, the single occupant located in the house was unable to be rescued and subsequently died in the house.
The unselfish nature of James' rescue attempt coupled with the serious injury he incurred as a result of attempting to save a life is worthy of nomination for the NSW Rural Fire Service internal bravery award.
Senior Deputy Captain James Burge is a worthy recipient of the Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery.
