Medal for bravery under fire

By Kelly Yates
A NARRE Warren woman has received the Chief Officer’s Commendation for her commitment and bravery as a CFA volunteer firefighter.
Susan Johnson has spent the past 12 years as part of the CFA, being a volunteer with the Narre Warren North Fire Brigade for seven years.
Ms Johnson said she enjoyed the fellowship at the brigade.
The 47-year-old joined fellow Narre Warren North firefighters Shaun Trotter, Kevin Bird, Brian Mennet, and Craig Kirk to score the award.
All of the members earned the recognition after rescuing a trapped man from a burning vehicle on 4 June last year.
“I was awarded for attending a motor vehicle accident in Narre Warren North and rescuing a trapped occupant under extraordinary circumstances – the car ignited while I was still inside it,” Ms Johnson said.
“I remember seeing the orange flash, thinking I should put my head down and then one of the other members dragged me out.”
The male driver received serious burns to 60 per cent of his body, according to Ms Johnson.
“My jacket caught alight but it was the protective gear I was wearing that saved me,” she said.
Ms Johnson also played an important role in February’s Black Saturday bushfires.
“I finished my work as a nurse at the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton at 2.30pm and was on the truck with the firefighters in Narre Warren North from 3.15pm,” she said.
Southern Health nurse unit manager Theo Does said Susan was a great example of someone with true dedication and bravery.