KC firefighter is a finalist for national award after trying to save woman trapped in house fire

A Kansas City firefighter injured while trying to save the life of a woman trapped in a fatal house fire last year is a finalist for Liberty Mutual Insurance’s National Firemark Award.

Capt. Charley Cashen is one of seven finalists for the annual award, which honors two firefighters — one for heroism and the other for community service and education.

Cashen is being recognized for his attempt to save the life of Susan Herrera, 31, who died in a fire Jan. 4, 2015, at her parents’ house in the 500 block of West 123rd Terrace.

The fire was reported shortly before 6 p.m. by someone inside the home who had called 911. By the time firefighters arrived, the front of the home in the Timber Trace subdivision of Kansas City was fully involved.

Cashen, who was one of the first firefighters to arrive, raced into the burning house to search for Herrera. He made his way through the basement, but the quickly spreading flames trapped him. He sought refuge from the extreme heat in a bathroom and put out a mayday distress call.

“I heard the mayday myself,” Battalion Chief James Garrett said at the time. “You could hear the anguish in his voice.”

Cashen decided to charge through the flames in an effort to escape. He nearly made it to the home’s front door before collapsing. Other firefighters rescued him.

Cashen sustained second-degree burns and received skin grafts for his injuries, according to Liberty Mutual. He spent 10 days in the hospital.

Herrera had been staying briefly with her parents while she waited to move into an apartment. Her mother, who was also home at the time, made it out of the burning house safely.

Herrera’s parents met with Cashen days after the fire and thanked him for his efforts, according to Liberty Mutual.

Liberty Mutual awards the Firemark Award annually. The award takes it name from the firemark, a leaden plate that American fire offices in the 18th and 19th centuries used to mark the houses they insured.

The firemark was a guarantee to fire brigades that the insurance company would reward them for extinguishing a fire on the premise.

The winners are selected by public vote. People can vote by going to Liberty Mutual’s Facebook page. To vote, people can like, comment or share their finalist’s video post.

Cashen’s video can be viewed here.

The public vote determines the two winners. The winners earn a $10,000 donation to their fire departments and a trip for four to New York.

The voting period lasts until April 20. The winners will be announced May 2.

This story was originally published April 3, 2016 at 5:59 PM with the headline "KC firefighter is a finalist for national award after trying to save woman trapped in house fire."