On September 15, 1996, off-duty Firefighter Capt. John Irvine pulled a man from his burning apartment in Smiths Falls, Ontario. First at the scene, Capt. Irvine was alerted that a man was trapped in a second-floor bathroom. He rushed up the stairs to a small landing where he heard the victim's frantic cries for help. Conscious of the dangers of entering a smoke-filled area without proper gear and breathing apparatus, Capt. Irvine crouched low and, despite the flaming debris falling from the ceiling, followed the man's voice to the bathroom door. Feeling his way, he grabbed the victim's hand and, dragging him, backed out towards the landing. As he descended the stairs, others helped him complete the rescue.