A police officer who saved a father and daughter from a Cowley house fire has been awarded for his bravery.

PC Patric Ward was given a chief constable higher commendation last week after his heroic actions during the suspected arson in Edmund Road last year.

He said he was “very proud” and complimented the other officers who responded to the blaze, several of whom were also commended.

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Oxford Mail: L-R) Sgt James Woodcock, PC Ashraful Kamalee, PC Kerrie Ingham, PC Issy Batey, PC Emma Tennant and PC Patric Ward with their awards from Chief Constable Jason HoggL-R) Sgt James Woodcock, PC Ashraful Kamalee, PC Kerrie Ingham, PC Issy Batey, PC Emma Tennant and PC Patric Ward with their awards from Chief Constable Jason Hogg (Image: TVP)

The officers attended the house fire just off Cowley Road on July 15 after PC Emma Tennant came across a large quantity of smoke at around 6.15am.

The house was ablaze from the rear first floor window and there was smoke coming from the windows at the front and rear of the house.

Officers managed to get through the front and back door and evacuate as many people as possible.

Oxford Mail: The fire broke out at a house in Edmund Road

PC Ward entered alongside PCs Daniel Hurst, Kerrie Ingham, and Ashraful Kamalee while PC Tennant remained in the doorway ensuring her colleagues were accounted for.

PC Ward met a 37-year-old man and an eight-year-old girl, who were father and daughter, on the stairs struggling to get down, so the officer grabbed the child and brought her out of the house, allowing the dad to get out too. A teenage boy then followed them.

The father then said another person was inside so PCs Ward, Kamalee, Hurst, as well as PC Isobel Batey and DS James Woodcock, all entered the house, which was still ablaze.

They searched the ground and first floors with smoke filling the house before being told that everyone had been accounted so DS Woodcock ordered them to withdraw.

Several of the officers received treatment for smoke inhalation from the ambulance service on scene.

PC Tennant also arranged for police cars to be moved so the fire engines could get closer as well as starting and co-ordinating neighbour evacuations.

She received a commendation alongside DS Woodcock and PCs Batey, Ingham, and Kamalee, while PC Hurst will receive a higher chief’s commendation.

DS Woodcock said: “It is a great honour to receive this award, and I am pleased my team is recognised for the sterling work they do on a daily basis.”

PC Ingham added: “At just after 6am on our last night shift going into rest days, the last thing we expected was to have a house fire just down the road from the station.

“Even less so being presented with a parent and children trapped inside and unable to get out.”

All of the officers involved have also received bravery awards from the Police Federation for their response to the fire.