NILES — Two Niles men are being honored today by the Ohio State Fire Commission for rescuing a

By SHELBY SCHROEDER

NILES — Two Niles men are being honored today by the Ohio State Fire Commission for rescuing a man trapped inside his burning home.

Gov. Ted Strickland will present Capt. Ray Knepper of the Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Department and Officer Les Nagy of the Niles Police Department with Fire Service Hall of Fame awards in Reynoldsburg, a Columbus suburb.

The men were nominated by Niles Fire Chief Gary Brown for their actions on May 20, 2007, when a home exploded on Poplar Street.

“I was just going down there to be nosey,” said Knepper, who was dressed only in jeans and a T-shirt when he arrived at the burning structure..

Neither were obligated to handle situation, but Nagy was in the area and Knepper was off duty at his home nearby. Since the two arrived before the Niles Fire Department, they decided to see if anyone was in the home.

“Usually we [police officers] direct traffic around fires,” said Nagy, “but you can’t just stand by if someone is inside.”

When they heard a voice from inside, Knepper broke in the back door and led Nagy on hands and knees through the smoke-filled home.

Inside, Knepper discovered homeowner Louis Michaels and pulled him outside to safety.

Knepper will receive the Ohio Fire Service Valor Award and Nagy will be given the Ohio Fire Service Citizens Award — both honors for going above and beyond the normal line of duty and risking their lives, according to a statement by the Ohio Department of Commerce.

Both said they were very proud of the awards and simply happy to serve their community.

“I’m committed to fighting fires and helping people,” Knepper said. “I’m happy that people out there recognize what we do.”

This will be the 28th annual Fire Service Hall of Fame ceremony, which also honors firefighters killed in duty. The event’s annual date was changed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks of 2001 to recognize the many fallen firefighters. It has been held on that day ever since.

Knepper and Nagy are two of seven being honored this year for their contributions. Five Ohio firefighters who have died in the line of duty within the last year will also be remembered.

Michaels has since been released from the Akron Burn Center, though his house was destroyed by the fire and later demolished, fire officials said.

sschroeder@vindy.com