Sheriff Honors Three Deputies for Lifesaving Award

Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns has honored three members of the sheriff's department for their efforts in rescuing a woman from her burning residence late in January.

Deputies Johnathon Schuette, Robin Brown and Dustin Lustig were recognized for their efforts on January 27 at a fire in rural Dieterich. 

Brown was the first deputy to arrive on scene within 10 minutes of the notification of the fire. Lustig and Schuette arrived soon after. Another resident of the structure and a neighbor had attempted to rescue the woman, but were unsuccessful. The three deputies, though, were able to remove the woman through a window of the structure. The woman suffered from considerable smoke inhalation that left her disoriented. The room where the woman was found was smoke-filled and became involved in the fire shortly after the deputies got the woman out of the structure. 

The deputies then monitored the condition of the woman, as well as the two other adults who had attempted to rescue her from the structure.

The three deputies were presented a Lifesaving Award for removing the woman and for providing her with a chance at recovery by insuring she was able to receive medical treatment.