Ballwin Police Officers, Civilians Honored for House Fire Life-Saving Attempt

When they arrived at the blazing home in the 100 block of Coral Terrace, Michael Hitchcock and Nathan Jaeger learned that an 84-year-old woman was trapped inside while smoke billowed out.

They learned the news from the woman's husband, Fred Conger.

The two officers tried to go through the door of the house, but smoke forced them out. With ladders they found at the scene, they climbed through an upper-floor bedroom window. Jaeger found the woman, Anna Conger, pulled her through the window and with Hitchcock's help, lowered her to waiting medics.

On Monday, the two officers received the city's Distinguished Service Citation for Valor, "given to officers who perform an act of heroism in the face of personal injury or risk of death." They received the honor from Police Chief Steve Schicker.

The Ballwin Board of Aldermen also honored Ballwin residents Kyle Duke and Mark Kramer, who also helped in the rescue. Duke, a neighbor of the Congers, found a ladder, climbed to a window to break out the window and tried to find Anna Conger. Kramer tried to enter the home and when he was forced out by the smoke, he stayed with Fred Conger.

The two received the Citizen Service Citation from the board.

"I assume this is just done by instinct," Kramer said. "I don't think we deserve this because she didn't live."

Anna Conger died June 5.

A representative of the  said because of an electrical shortage of a VCR in one of the house's bedrooms.

Hitchcock, Jaeger, and Fred Conger were treated for smoke inhalation at Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur at the time.

"It was all adrenalin; that's all it was," Duke said after receiving his citation. "If there is a silver lining, at least her body wasn't burned in the house."