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Local youth honoured for bravery

They acted quickly after two men caught on fire near Terrace, BC

FOUR local youth were honoured by the Governor General of Canada last night for putting out flames that burned two men last January.

The youth along with one of the men, Thornhill resident Murray Hamer, each received a Certificate of Commendation, signed by Governor General David Johnston, which recognizes those who have made a significant contribution by providing assistance to another in a selfless manner.

Receiving the certificates alongside Hamer at a ceremoney held in the city's council chambers Monday  Dec. 10 were his sons Patrick Hamer and Nickolas Hamer, his niece Dayne Wright and nephew Parker Wright.

"You guys are just amazing," said Terrace city councillor Lynne Christiansen to the group. "It could have been much worse."

Murray Hamer, who suffered second  degree burns as a result of catching on fire, agrees.

On the afternoon of January 11 2012, Hamer was working on his farm with helper Jess Hansen, who was filling a 4x4 quad with a jerry can of fuel before moving on to a nearby truck to empty the can of the rest of its contents.

The youth were feeding horses nearby when they heard Murray Hamer's call for help.

A spark  had ingited the fuel, which stunned Hansen as he had caught on fire. He froze, ignited, holding the jerry can.   Hamer stepped in and pulled the can out of Hansen's hand, but when he threw it  down onto the ground he spilled fuel on the ground and himself, catching on fire, too.

While Hamer dragged Hansen to a nearby hydrant, he called for help.

Patrick grabbed a fire extiguisher and Dayne grabbed a blanket. Parker said stop drop and roll -- which Murray did, although the fuel that had spilled on him meant the  flames would reignite.

Patrick already knew how to use a fire extinguisher and used it on the two men.

A blanket was thrown over Hansen's head, and one of the youth them opened up the hydrant under which Hamer slid.

After the fire on Hansen had burned out Dayne and Nickolas threw a blanet over Hamer next.

Hamer suffered second degree burns on the back of one of his legs and his hand and Hansen emerged, luckily, with some singed hairs as the fire had not burned through his clothes.

Thornhill fire chief Wes Patterson said afterward the youth did exactly what they were supposed to do in that instance.

"I am very thankful that they did what they did because I was so out  of control at the time," said Hamer to councillors and an audience during the presentation last night. "It certainly is a good thing that they were there."

Deputy mayor James Cordeiro presented each of the five with their own Certificate of Commendation, a Canadian honour awarded through a voting process held by the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee.