(Submitted photo)

OXFORD – An Oxford firefighter named Cody Maricle received the New York State Liberty Medal from Senator Fred Akshar on Friday after he saved a family from a burning building in Pennsylvania.

According to Susquehanna Fire Department officials, at approximately 12:40 a.m. on March 17, in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Maricle saved the lives of five people and their dog after noticing a house fire. Officials said Maricle stopped to call 911, and made his way into the home to save the residents inside.

"The NYS Liberty Medal is awarded to an individual who has merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, and humanitarian acts on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers," said Akshar. "Without regard to his own safety, Cody Maricle ran to a burning building, opened the front door, and awakened five members of a family that lived in that location – they were sleeping still because the smoke detectors hadn't activated.

"Due to due diligence of Cody, a family of five and their dog survived a devastating fire in which they lost everything, but their lives were saved and Cody can be credited for that."

When asked about what the fire, Maricle said, "I feel like I was there at the right moment... I did the best I could do."