Uniformed Hero nomination – PC Mark Sigley and DC Katy Sigley

Uniformed Hero nomination – PC Mark Sigley and DC Katy Sigley

Husband and wife police officers, Mark and Katy Sigley, saved the lives of two people after stumbling across a house fire while they were off duty.

Mark went into the burning building to try to save one of the occupants after the couple spotted smoke while they were driving.

The husband and wife living in the property hadn’t been aware that there was a fire, with Mark and Katy now nominated as Uniformed Heroes in the Your Heroes Awards in recognition of their actions.

A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: “Having discussed the incident with the officers and understanding the gravity and seriousness of the situation they found themselves in I have no doubt that the actions of PC Mark Sigley and DC Kate Sigley saved the lives of both occupants on this evening.

“Their selfless actions in entering a burning building, bravery in the face of very challenging circumstances and their speed of thought in relation to saving the lives of others is outstanding.

“Both officers are a credit to their respective teams and to the Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police.”

The couple had been driving along Baswich Lane in Stafford when something that they initially thought must be mist obscured their field of vision.

When they realised it was smoke they stopped the car and found the house where it was coming from.

As they were banging on the front door of the property the garage turned from billowing smoke to large flames, drastically increasing the level of risk.

One of the two occupants was believed to be asleep in an upstairs bedroom so Mark went into the now burning building to try to locate him but Martk and a member of public made it partway up the staircase before the thickness of the smoke forced them to turn back.

By this time the garage was fully on fire and there were popping sounds from within the garage as gas cannisters exploded.

The couple helped to evacuate neighbouring homes and were communicating with the man inside the burning house, who was now shouting for help from an upstairs window.

A short time later firefighters, equipped with breathing apparatus, entered the house and were able to rescue the man and get him into a waiting ambulance.