JAMES Burge took minutes to tell this story.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But, on the afternoon of December 8, 2012, Mr Burge made a split-second decision to enter a burning Cootamundra home - an attempt to save the life of an elderly man inside.
The senior deputy captain of the Stockinbingal Rural Fire Brigade - and Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer of about 12 years - saw flames coming from the Berthong Street house as he drove past about 4pm.
The actions that followed have earned Mr Burge a commendation for brave conduct, as part of the Australian Bravery Awards announced by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove today.
"I certainly wasn't expecting to get it at all," Mr Burge said.
"I'm very pleased and honoured to get it but, for what I did, I'd expect anyone to do that kind of thing."
As flames engulfed the house, the 32-year-old's instincts took over - he went to check everyone was all right.
After being told by another person there was an elderly man inside, Mr Burge gained entry by kicking in a window.
"As I went into the house, I came down on a shard of glass, which injured my leg quite badly," Mr Burge said.
Forced to hop around on his uninjured right leg, he searched the smoke-filled room desperately trying to find the occupant.
"I was calling out to this bloke ... by that stage he wasn't calling back," he said.
"I couldn't see him, I couldn't work out where to go."
The decision to leave wasn't any easy one.
"That was the most difficult part of the whole situation," he said.
"I was losing a lot of blood and not knowing it, I wasn't feeling well myself."
Mr Burge said although it took him minutes to tell the story, it was made of many split-second increments - everything happened so quickly.
"Adrenaline is one of those things; until you experience it, it is hard to explain," he said.
"My main focus was just to get to the man."
The elderly man died in the fire.
Mr Burge was also acknowledged for his actions by the RFS in May, when he was awarded the commissioner's commendation for bravery.
RELATED