Four Riverhead Police officers who rescued residents of a burning home on August 5 were honored with lifesaving awards by Riverhead Mayor Tim Hubbard and the council at the August 20 Riverhead Town Council meeting.

Sergeant Giuseppe Rosini, Officer John Dahlem, Officer William Leonardi and Officer Matthew Suprina were present to accept the award for their “outstanding performance and heroic life-saving actions” in saving the lives of three people in a burning home on Newton Avenue on Monday evening, Aug. 5. The fourth officer, Officer Matthew Suprina, was unable to be present at the event to accept the award, Hubbard said.

When officers arrived, they found the home engulfed in flames and heavy smoke, Riverhead police said in an evening news release. Officers spotted one of the residents near the front door who reported that two other residents, an adult male and adult female, were trapped inside the home. Officers attempted to enter the home but retreated due to the heavy smoke and fire, the news release said. The female resident was able to get to a front bedroom window where officers were able to pull her out of the home to safety. Officers then went to the back of the home and spotted a man in a rear bedroom window and were able to pull him out of the home through the window, police said in the news release. No one was seriously injured.

Hubbard, a retired Riverhead Police detective, recounted how terrifying he found it when he had to enter a burning house during his training at the police academy. He expressed admiration for entering a house “during a blazing fire” to rescue people trapped inside.

“We thank you for your bravery,” Hubbard said. “Thanks to your courage and heroic efforts, a family is alive here today.”

“We know we’re taking on this job. We hope we never have to, but thank God you were there,” he said. “You were there right away and you saved the family. So hats off to you. Kudos and good luck to all of you in the rest of your careers. We owe you a lot,” he said.