Five Northamptonshire Police officers who repeatedly entered a blazing house in a desperate attempt to rescue trapped occupants are being recognised for their extraordinary bravery.

On Monday 28 March 2025, PS Will Barr, who was a PC at the time, and PCs Bradley Bowman, Lewis Desborough, Nik Hawke MBE and Chris King were among the first emergency responders called to reports of a house fire in Rushton, Northamptonshire.

While making their way to the scene, officers received updates that the property was “well alight”, with flames rapidly escalating and people including children believed to be trapped upstairs. Fire and Rescue crews were still enroute, meaning the officers would arrive first.

What greeted them was a scene of devastation.

The property was engulfed in an aggressive fire, with thick black smoke pouring from the building and intense flames tearing through doors and windows. Embers rained from the sky and the heat was so extreme that a survivor who had escaped the house was covered in soot and steaming from the temperatures endured inside.

Despite the overwhelming danger, the officers immediately focused on trying to save those still trapped inside.

PC Bradley Bowman acted without hesitation. Armed only with a wet towel wrapped around his head, handed to him by the survivor, he climbed a ladder towards an upstairs window in an attempt to reach the victims.

As he reached the first floor, the sheer intensity of the heat became overwhelming. Moments later, the window exploded, showering him with glass and debris as part of the building began collapsing internally. His eyelashes were singed and he struggled to breathe, forcing him to retreat back to safety.

At the same time, PS Will Barr arrived alongside PCs Lewis Desborough, Nik Hawke and Chris King. Together, the officers entered the property through the front door, despite the choking smoke, collapsing structure and advancing flames.

Body-worn video captured the terrifying conditions inside, as the officers pushed further into the property with almost no visibility. The staircase had already collapsed and flames engulfed much of the interior.

While searching for a route upstairs, parts of the ceiling began collapsing around them. The extreme heat melted the cover of PS Barr’s radio and singed his hair as debris smouldered on the officers’ clothing.

Even after being forced outside, the officers continued trying to reach those trapped. PS Barr made a further attempt by climbing another ladder to access the first floor externally, but the ferocity of the fire made rescue impossible.

All five officers were later taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. One officer required further hospital treatment in the days that followed, while another continues to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tragically, three people lost their lives in the fire, including a young child.

Northamptonshire Police Federation Chair Sam Dobbs said: “It must be every police officer’s nightmare to arrive at an incident such as this prior to the experts from fire and rescue service.

“Police officers have to make split second decisions, with their core role to protect life central to their actions. There is often a fine line between recklessness and bravery.

“Society should be very thankful officers like PS Will Barr and PCs Bradley Bowman, Lewis Desborough, Nik Hawke and Chris King are prepared to be selfless enough to put their own life at risk to save others.”

Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said: “Their actions display the very best of policing. What they came across that day was a scene of complete devastation and a tragedy. Risking their own safety – their only aim was to save and help others. The courage and bravery displayed are commendable. They should be very proud of their actions that day.”