Pennsylvania State Police commended a Fern Ridge officer with a Medal of Honor for disregarding his personal safety and battling heavy smoke and fire to save the life of a Penn Forest woman last summer.

Fern Ridge’s Trooper Jonathan Bailey was honored for the heroic rescue of Sandra Knell, who was caught in a fire at her Albrightsville home last July.Bailey responded to the dispatch call at 12:30 p.m. July 27, arriving on scene at 277 Patten Circle before fire and rescue crews to find thick smoke and fire coming from the premises.Residents on scene told Bailey that Knell, who could barely walk and required constant oxygen use, was trapped inside.State police said during the commendation ceremony that Bailey saw two large propane tanks along the outside of the home.He was told the woman trapped inside could barely walk and required the constant use of oxygen.“Without any consideration for his own safety, Trooper Bailey ran into the house and immediately encountered thick smoke that totally obstructed visibility inside the structure,” police said.Even though the heavy smoke restricted Bailey’s ability to see and breathe, he acted quickly, making several attempts to rush into the home, calling out for Knell until he could pinpoint her location.Bailey was able to find Knell, with her oxygen tanks nearby and the fire creeping ever closer, and assist her out of the home before disaster could strike.Knell was transported to Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Emergency Room for treatment of burns and smoke inhalation, but reportedly made a full recovery thanks to Bailey’s quick thinking.Bailey himself went to Pocono Medical Center for smoke inhalation, but was right back on the beat to finish his shift after treatment.“By the time we arrived on the scene the state police had already removed all of the residents from the house,” said Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 Chief Dave Vuckovic on the scene that day.“I credit the state police with saving the life of the woman who was downstairs in the home.”