Correspondent photo / Sean Barron From left, Struthers firefighters Rob Ditman and Scott Keures, as well as officers James Ritter and Louis Rossi of the Struthers Police Department, receive commendations during Wednesday’s city council meeting for their efforts in saving the life of a 12-year-old girl after having responded to a house fire Dec. 21. In the background is Struthers City Council President Michael Patrick

STRUTHERS — If you express thanks and gratitude to officers James Ritter and Louis Rossi for how they responded to a recent house fire in which a life was saved, expect a humble response.

“I’m just happy the girl was saved,” Rossi, a three-year member of the Struthers Police Department, said.

He was referring to life-saving efforts he and several others performed after having been called to a fire at a one-story home Dec. 21 in the 500 block of Edison Street.

For their efforts in fighting the blaze and saving the life of a 12-year-old girl, Rossi and Ritter, along with firefighters Rob Ditman and Scott Keures, were honored and handed lifesaver proclamations during Wednesday’s city council meeting.

Ritter, who’s been with the department 13 years, said he was grateful to Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller for recognizing his work and that of the others. Both added they also are thankful to the community.

The call was broadcast around 9 p.m. Dec. 21 regarding the fire, the cause of which likely was a kerosene heater in the basement, according to fire Chief Mike Agnone. Firefighters and police rescued the girl from the second floor at the rear of the residence, though the family dog died in the blaze.

A man escaped the fire, but suffered burns and was flown to an Akron area hospital, where he continues to improve. Cercone Miller said the girl is a friend of the family who owns the home.

Campbell, Poland and Springfield fire departments assisted at the scene.

During Wednesday’s session, the mayor expressed her gratitude to the four first responders for their quick response and teamwork, as well as the mutual aid that helped fight the fire.

Rossi, Keures, Ditman and Ritter are not only great examples for the community, but are “friends of mine, of the city and of the residents, and really anybody they come in contact with,” Cercone Miller said.

“The city deserves to know how special our first responders are, and even if they do not want the accolades, they deserve them,” she added.

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