Star of Courage

• Awarded on: February 10, 1995
• Invested on: June 23, 1995

Mr. Szajko repeatedly entered a burning house to save six people in Oliver, British Columbia, on June 18, 1994. While driving by, he noticed a house on fire and immediately stopped, ran to the house and kicked open the front door. After helping five of the occupants out of the building, he learned there was a woman still inside. Unsure of where she was, he entered several times to search for her in the dense smoke. Finally, he heard a call for help and was able to locate the woman. As he reached her, an explosion sent the two backwards. The heat and smoke increased in intensity, but Mr. Szajko was able to drag the severely burned woman to the door where others assisted in pulling her out.