Young Volunteers Honored for Firefighting Efforts at a Senior Care Facility

Five young people have received the State of Saxony’s Medal of Honor for Lifesaving for their spontaneous rescue effort at a retirement home in Chemnitz. Mayor Sven Schulze (SPD) praised them, saying that at the time, they did not wait for someone else to take action, but instead took the initiative themselves and actively participated in the rescue. He noted that they served as role models and helped prevent a worse outcome.

In March, a fire broke out at a nursing home in the city, killing one resident and injuring seven others. The young people happened to be in town for a seminar as part of their Federal Volunteer Service. As they were about to have a coffee at the Schlossteich, they heard a fire alarm beeping and saw smoke coming from a building. “We just started running. We knew right away that we had to help,” one of them reported at the time.

Fire Extinguished and Seniors Brought to Safety

They not only called 911 but also rushed into the nursing home and spontaneously provided first aid. One of them courageously grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the flames in one of the rooms. Others helped bring residents to safety.

The medal of honor is awarded to people who “have saved human lives or averted a significant danger threatening the general public while risking their own lives or under particularly threatening, perilous circumstances.” It is made of fine silver, bears the Saxon coat of arms, and features the inscription “For Rescue from Danger” alongside the honoree’s name.