2 twp. officers honored
CRANBERRY TWP — Two township police officers were honored Thursday night at the supervisors meeting for their heroics last month during a house fire.
Officers Chris Zevola and Victor Korol were recognized for saving two men's lives March 28 from a burning home. The pair received the police department's Lifesaving Award, a plaque and pin from Chief Kevin Meyer at the meeting. They also received a standing ovation from all in attendance.
“They're here to protect and serve us, and they do such a great job,” said Richard Hadley, board of supervisors chairman. “They were put in a situation they didn't expect to be put in when they got up for work that day.”
A mail carrier noticed smoke and flames coming from the home on Sherwood Drive in Cranberry shortly after noon on March 28 and called 911, Meyer said. Zevola and Korol responded within minutes of each other and assessed the scene.
They began looking around to see if there was any residents in the building, Meyer said. Zevola checked the rear door, found it ajar and saw the room was full of smoke.
Wearing just their service uniforms, the officers entered the building and began yelling for the occupants of the home. Zevola soon heard noise from a rear bedroom, where they found the two residents — Robert Aleva and Nick Gratteri — who had been sleeping and were unaware the house was on fire, Meyer said.
The officers and residents exited the building, all uninjured.
“They no doubt were responsible for saving those gentlemen's lives that day,” Meyer said.
Aleva and Gratteri were at the meeting Thursday and thanked the officers for their service.
“It's sort of scary when Officer Zevola wakes you up, but without him we wouldn't be here,” Aleva said.
