James Samuel Graff, M.B.
Earl Douglas Spence, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
On July 3, 2001, James Graff and Earl Spence rescued an elderly woman from her burning house in Midway, British Columbia. Noticing large clouds of smoke billowing from the residence, the two men rushed to the scene where they were met by the woman's disturbed husband who tried to interfere with their efforts to render assistance. When the man admitted that his wife was still inside the burning home, Messrs. Graff and Spence ran to the dwelling and forced the locked door open, releasing a wall of thick black smoke. Both men crawled a few metres into the house on their hands and knees, calling to the woman who refused to cooperate. Catching a glimpse of the victim through the dense smoke, Mr. Spence made his way to her, grabbed her by the arm and, assisted by Mr. Graff, pulled her out to safety.