Local hero to receive GG certificate

Mary Calleri doesn’t know Ken Ferance, but she was sure happy their paths crossed almost two years.

Ferance, of North Bay, will receive a Governor General’s certificate of commendation April 19 at the North Bay city council meeting for helping to pull Calleri, now 78, out of a flame-engulfed vehicle.

He’s also been nominated for a Carnegie Medal, sponsored by the U.S-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

“I think he’s a marvelous and courageous person for doing what he did because he could have been killed too,” Calleri told BayToday.ca from her home in Sault Ste. Marie.

“I’m very thankful because I wouldn’t be here today without him.”

Immediately caught fire
Ferance was driving to Obatanga Provincial Park with his wife Linda Hearst July 23, 2002, when he came upon Calleri’s vehicle on Highway 17 about 40 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie.

Her 1995 Chevy Blazer had gone out of control on the highway, flipped several times before coming to rest upright in a ditch and immediately caught fire.

“We could see flames coming up under the hood. There was a truck stopped on the other side and I could see the truck driver running towards the card,” said Ferance, technical services manager with the North Bay Nugget.

“He couldn’t open the door and yelled for some help, and I helped him open the door.”

Would not have survived
The truck driver undid Calleri’s seatbelt and he and Ferance took her out of the car and moved her to safety.

“She would not have survived otherwise,” Ferance said.
“The whole thing took less than two minutes to get her out, three minutes maximum, and about seven or eight minutes the car had caught fire.”

While Ferance was trying to get Calleri out, Hearst started stopping vehicles.

“The first person she stopped turned out to be a nurse and the second a doctor, so they went and gave her medical treatment right away,” Ferance said.

Didn't hesitate
By this time eight to 10 other people had arrived on the scene, some with fire extinguishers, but they were unable to put the blaze out.

Although Ferance saw that the car was on fire and was in danger of exploding, he said he didn’t hesitate for a moment.

“My prime concern was to get the occupants out of the car,” Ferance said. “You just do what has to be done, whatever’s necessary. I don't feel like a hero.”

Pulled a woman out
A second person will also be receiving the GG commendation April 19. Last month North Bay resident Doug Mosher was presented the honour from Mayor Vic Fedeli on behalf of Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. He had also pulled a woman out of a burning car while living in British Columbia.