The Baltimore Sun
Copyright 2006 The Baltimore Sun Company
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Two city firefighters who ran into a burning building in April to rescue two boys before a hose was set up are to receive a national award today in New York.
Albert Jason Boyd, 28, and Omar Shareef, 45, searched a burning apartment in Northwest Baltimore for a 4-year-old and his 3-year-old brother. Boyd rescued the 4-year-old, and Shareef pulled the 3-year-old from his bottom bunk, but the child was pronounced dead.
The $10,000 award from Liberty Mutual insurance company — a grant that will be given to the Baltimore City Fire Department — comes during a week that city firefighters buried one of their own. Allan M. Roberts, 40, was killed Oct. 10 when he entered a burning rowhouse in Greektown.
Boyd said the death of his colleague caused him to reflect on his own rescue this year. “It brings you back to [the] reality that this job is still dangerous, no matter how many safety precautions you put in place,” he said. He added that he was “extremely proud” to be recognized for his work - it was the first rescue he had made in his three years in the department.
Liberty Mutal has been giving its community-based National Firemark Award for 20 years. Last year, the company began giving national awards.