SHERMAN, TX-From running into a burning building to pull a man to safety to performing CPR to revive another man, several Sherman firefighters were honored for their lifesaving efforts Monday.
One of Sherman's newest firefighters said he was shocked to be one of the seven men honored Monday night at the awards ceremony and all of them say they're humbled at the recognition and say they were just doing their job.
Three Sherman firefighters were surprised Monday night when they were recognized for their efforts to save a man from his burning house last week. One of them, Nicolas Spray, just joined the department.

"It was kinda surprising. It kinda threw us, it kinda threw me off guard but it felt very good. We do it everyday. You just don't expect to be recognized like that, it feels really good to be recognized in front of your peers," he said.

Spray and two other firefighters ran into the home on Ricketts last Wednesday to rescue Aubrey Smith, who was trapped in his bedroom.

"Started putting out the fires, we went in to get the patient and rescue him out. We went in the front door and went back out and took him into the ambulance," he said.

They got him out, but Smith later died in Parkland Hospital.

"It does sadden us, it's really unfortunate for the family and we're sorry about their loss...but we need to keep going on and just know that we have to take everybody's best interest in mind," said Spray.

"You could consider that as part of what we do and say, 'that's what a firefighter's supposed to do that's their job.' But it's really way beyond that, this is a great group of guys and I'm just honored to be their chief," said Sherman Fire Chief, Jeff Jones.

But another rescue last March had a very different outcome, when four firefighters were able to bring a man back to life after he'd suffered cardiac arrest.
They were honored with the "Distinguished Service Award."

"We're just doing our job, honestly that's all I can say. That's what we're here for, " said Capt. Jason Sparlin.

"The guys that I work with do the same thing day in and day out and we don't do it for the recognition, we just do it as a call of duty," said paramedic, Brad Iams.

Iams said after performing CPR and using a defibrillator on the patient, he was revived.

"It was one of the rare occasions when I actually got to leave the hospital and the guy was squeezing my hand trying to say 'thank you' you know? It was wonderful," he said.

Firefighters also pointed out how important it is for the public to learn CPR. So more lives can be saved, even before responders get to the scene.