GILMER, Texas — An Upshur County sheriff’s sergeant has been honored with a Life Saving Achievement Award after authorities said he pulled a woman in a wheelchair and her dog from a burning home in New Diana.

KLTV reported that Upshur County Patrol Supervisor Josh Davis received the recognition Friday for his actions during an April 1 fire call in the 1300 block of Teachers Ridge Road.

According to the report, Davis was on routine patrol when he heard the fire call and responded. Sheriff Larry Webb told the outlet that Davis’ quick action helped keep the situation from becoming “a lot worse.”

Woman and dog pulled to safety

The station reported that Davis located a woman in a wheelchair who was stuck inside the burning residence with her dog. Davis said the woman was mostly concerned about the pet being left inside.

Davis pulled both the woman and the dog out of the home and moved them to a safe area, according to the report.

“When I signed up to do this job, I signed up to serve my community. And that’s what I did,” Davis told KLTV.

Davis also described the response as instinctive after years in the profession.

“We have a job to do. You have to react in a way that just comes natural to you when you’ve been in this profession as long as I have,” Davis said, according to the station.

Fourteen years of service

KLTV reported that the Life Saving Achievement Award was the first recognition of its kind for Davis in 14 years of service.

Webb told the outlet that in rural areas, emergency responses are often “all hands on deck,” underscoring why deputies may be called into dangerous situations before other help arrives.

For ThinBlueNews readers, the Upshur County story is a reminder that law enforcement work in smaller communities often includes every kind of emergency: patrol calls, fire calls, rescues, medical emergencies, and the fast decisions that can determine whether a neighbor makes it out safely.

Sources and attribution

  • KLTV provided the report, quotes, location details, timeline, and award information.
  • The featured image is an original ThinBlueNews editorial graphic and does not imply an incident photo.