“A policeman while on duty became a chance witness of a fire in a private house in Bereznik village of the Arkhangelsk Region. The officer took proper measures to rescue the children and elderly woman being inside,” said the Russian MIA official representative Irina Volk.

Chief of the Investigation Division of the Russian MIA Administration for the Vinogradovsky District Major of Justice Alexey Tarakanov on a mission in Pavlina Vinogradova street of Bereznik village noticed a fire in a private house. The veranda and the roof of the building were already engulfed in flames. Having reported the accident to the duty unit, Alexey rushed to the blazing house. He saw two little children and an elderly woman through the window who were vainly trying to open it. They were already unable to get out on their own.

Without wasting a second, Alexey Tarakanov broke the window with his service gun and carried the nine-year old girl, two-year old boy and the elderly woman out from the burning building.

The policeman's decisive actions prevented a terrible tragedy. The children have only minor scratches; the elderly woman has been hospitalized with burns on the hands, her life is in no danger. As to the officer, he suffered a burn and several cuts, but after due medical aid he returned to service.

The Chief of the Russian MIA Administration for the Arkhangelsk Region is considering the issue on nominating Major of Justice Alexey Tarakanov for award.