Arthur Williams, an officer in the Catasauqua Police Department, has been honored for the action he took at the scene of a fire in the borough earlier this year.

Residents from northern and northeastern Pennsylvania were honored for acts of heroism or commitment to burn education Oct. 14 at the ninth annual Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage Awards Celebration. Sixteen individuals were recognized.

Williams was on duty, patrolling Catasauqua streets in the early morning hours of Aug. 3 when he discoverd a fire in progress at a residence on Second Street.

He entered the burning house and brought out one of the residents, then re-entered to reach a second person, saving both lives before firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire.

The Spirt of Courage Awards program was started by the Burn Prevention Network, Valley Preferred and Lehigh Valley Health Network. The awards recognize people who perform heroic acts or raising public awareness of fire safety and prevention.

Among the speakers at the celebration, held at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg, was Burn Prevention Network Director Dan Dillard.

"Risking one's life for another, especially for a stranger, is the epitome of brotherhood and citizenship," he said. "It is typically done out of duty – always out of love but seldom with a desire for recognition.

"The Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage awards celebrate these unselfish acts of heroism. We also acknowledge the efforts of those who dedicate their time and talent to preventing burn injuries as well as those extraordinary individuals who rise up from devastating burn injury to inspire and support fellow burn survivors."

Others honored at the event included Leo and Michelle Woelkers, Moscow, Pa., Jason and Kevin Soto, Allentown; Jim Baran, Chad Gruver and Jorge Rivera, Easton; Jeffrey Keifer and Sean Stark, Forks Township; William Bonavoglia and Eugene Ruddy, Dunmore; Milagros Cintron, Allentown; Fire Lt. Vincent Chitswara and Capt. Daniel Leshko, McAdoo; and Donald M. Christ, New Tripoli.