IN Lieutenant Receives Medal of Honor for Response to House Explosion

A Porter County, Indiana, sheriff’s lieutenant called it nothing short of a miracle that he was nearby when a gas explosion leveled a house.

Porter, Indiana Fire Chief Jay Craig said at the time of the explosion in September that a 3-year-old girl was trapped inside the house when crews arrived.

Lt. Kevin Van Kley heard the call over the scanner and rushed to the scene. He pulled the young child to safety after finding her pinned in the rubble.

Last week, Lt. Van Kley was honored by the Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds for his lifesaving actions, with a medal of honor, CBS reports.