A Pottsville police officer, who saved a girl’s life earlier this year when her home caught on fire, was honored recently by the Nesquehoning Memorial VFW Post 8008 for his heroic act.

Michael Hrebik, a Nesquehoning native and 2014 graduate of Panther Valley High School, was recognized during the post’s recent Patriot Day service.

“We have a great privilege and honor to present an award to a true American hero, someone who went above and beyond during his duties,” said VFW Commander Craig Strohl, who presented Hrebik with the VFW Courage Award.

“This is not something you get trained on or something that someone teaches you. This is something you’re born with, something in your heart.”

Hrebik, who was hired by Pottsville Police Department last May, was on duty early on the morning of May 9, when a call for a house fire on West Arch Street in Pottsville came in.

He jumped into action, heading to the scene only to realize that a child was trapped inside the burning home.

According to reports, Hrebik found one of the occupants, Betty Speiss, who reported that her 11-year-old daughter was in danger.

The girl was in a bedroom upstairs, but smoke was so thick that she couldn’t make it out. At the time, she was hanging out the back window in hopes of being saved.

Strohl said that Hrebik, realizing the only way to save the girl, was to think outside the box, using some of his Marine training.

“Mike made his way back down the steps and exited through the rear of the building, looked around hoping to find a ladder, but could not,” Strohl said. “He then remembered he passed a kitchen table on the way out.”

Hrebik then reentered the burning building and drug the table outside, placing it below the bedroom window. He then grabbed a chair, and placed it on top.

Standing on his makeshift ladder, the girl jumped into his arms.

The girl ended up only sustaining minor burns and Hrebik went back to his duty, not feeling like he had just become a hero.

“I think I did what any first responder would do, whether that be fire, police, EMS, whoever. If somebody was in that position, it would be to try to save whoever was stuck in that building,” Hrebik told news outlets after the fire.