Two Canadian firefighters who rescued a man from a basement bedroom of a burning house were given the Fireslayer of the Year Award during a special ceremony at the FDIC in Indianapolis.

Andrew Brassard and Steve Ellis are the first Canadians to be given the honor since its launch in 2000 by MSA. The pair rescued Matthew Grant when they were called to a house fire in Milton, Ontario, last July.

Equipped with a thermal imaging camera, they searched the second and ground floors of the property before finding Grant, either asleep or unconscious due to smoke inhalation, in the basement.

With visibility in the basement near zero, Brassard began a hand search while Ellis scanned the room with the camera.

"I spotted him right away," said Ellis. "Matthew had covered himself with a blanket but his leg was sticking out. Through the camera, it lit up like a glow stick."

The award was set up to recognize firefighters who display "selfless dedication in the line of duty."

"For us, it's like the Nobel Peace Prize," said Milton Fire Chief Larry Brassard, "and to be the first Canadian department to receive this honor makes it that more special."