CONNEAUT – It doesn’t take much for a firefighter to recognize courage in others. They look for the person running toward the fire and not away from it.
Benjamin Rogers’ decision to run toward a fire may have saved several lives, earning him a commendation from the Conneaut Fire Department.
“We can probably all think of a time where we were in the right place at the right time,” Dr. William Anderson said. “In the nighttime hours of Aug. 30, early morning on Sunday at 12:30, he was a guardian angel of Mr. and Mrs. Baskin.”
Rogers received a commendation from the fire department and the City of Conneaut during a regular city council meeting on Monday, Sept. 14.
“Congratulations for doing this, displaying your selflessness and your courage to run towards something that other people are running away from,” Anderson said.
Traveling eastbound on Lake Road in Conneaut, Rogers saw that a residence was on fire. Recognizing the family inside was in danger, he alerted neighbors to call 911 while attempting to wake the occupants of the home.
“A fire was reported at 12:25 in the morning,” Anderson said. “(Rogers) alerted the homeowners to the fire that was burning. They had no idea about it. The fire began on the outside, behind the garage, and spread up the outside, into the attic space and started going across.”
Those actions just might have saved the lives of the Baskin family.
“The fire, according to Asst. Chief (Steve) Sanford, was a third of the way through the attic above them, almost above their bedroom,” Anderson said. “Without his actions, Mr. Baskin believed that he and his wife and their daughter would have perished in this fire had it not been for him.”
Anderson stated that 49 percent of residential fire deaths occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. and 31 percent of the victims were sleeping when they were fatally injured.
“Without Benjamin’s actions, the selflessness and the courage he displayed, we could be reporting on two civilian fatalities rather than a success story,” Anderson said.
The city recognized Rogers for his actions that night.
“Through his presence of mind, quick response and concern for the safety and well-being of others, Mr. Rogers helped ensure that the occupants were made aware of the danger unfolding around them,” the city’s commendation read. “Benjamin Rogers could have continued on his way at the late hour, but instead chose to act at a moment when every second mattered, demonstrating courage, compassion and an extraordinary willingness to come to the aid of his neighbors.”
“Such actions exemplify the very best qualities of citizenship and community, the instinct to look out for one another and the willingness to act when another person is in danger,” the commendation continued. “The city of Conneaut, Ohio, believes that selfless acts of courage deserve the recognition and gratitude of the community they serve.”
City council wanted Rogers to know his actions are appreciated.
“Now, therefore, the Council of the City of Conneaut, on behalf of the citizens of this community, hereby recognize and commend Benjamin Rogers for his heroic actions and extend to him its sincerest gratitude for his courage, vigilance and concern for the lives and safety of his fellow citizens,” the commendation read.
