The Calvert County Commissioners presented proclamations to three citizens who rendered aid to a St. Leonard family during a two-alarm fire in late January. The commissioners, along with the homeowner who received the aid, recognized Edie Singleton, Kenneth Fox and Richard Nukolezak during the board’s Tuesday, Feb. 26 meeting.
All three citizens happened to be traveling on St. Leonard Road at approximately 9:20 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 when a chimney fire erupted at the home of Norma Jean Welch-Williams.
According to accounts contained in the proclamations, Singleton was traveling to Prince Frederick with her granddaughter, Elle; Fox was heading for Prince Frederick and Nukolezak was running late for an appointment and decide to travel north on St. Leonard Road instead of Route 2/4. The three adults all stopped their vehicles when they saw the white smoke coming from the dwelling and realized the house was on fire.
Fox dialed 911 to report the fire. Everyone approached the house to look for occupants and advise them of the situation. The impromptu rescue party succeeded in Welch-Williams, her son and family dog out of the structure before it became fully engulfed in flames.
In his proclamation, it was noted that Nukolezak “believes God put him on the back road that day.”
It was noted in Fox’s proclamation that the incident prompted him to decide to again become a volunteer firefighter. During the 1990s he had been a member of the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department. Fox recently joined the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department.
“It’s another day for all of us,” said Commissioner Steven R. Weems [R] after he had presented all the heroes with their plaudits.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
