- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Year of Institution: 30 October 1957
- Country: Russia & USSR
The Medal for Courage in a Fire (or Медаль «За отвагу на пожаре», Medal «Za otvagu na pozhare» in Russian) was established on 30 October 1957 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and awarded all Soviet citizens for courage and bravery in extinguishing fires or saving lives/state or private property from fire or for preventing explosions and fires.
The Medal “For Courage in a Fire” was awarded to members of the fire service, members of volunteer fire brigades, the military, and other citizens:
- for courage, bravery and selflessness displayed during fire fighting, during the rescue of people and the protection of socialist or private property from fire;
- for the leadership of firefighting units employed in fire protection, in firefighting or in rescue operations;
- for bravery, courage, and perseverance displayed in order to prevent an explosion or fire.
Each medal came with an attestation of the award, this attestation came in the form of a small 8 cm by 11 cm cardboard booklet bearing the award’s name, the recipient’s particulars, and an official stamp and signature on the inside.
The medal’s statute was amended on July 18, 1980 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR № 2523-X. It ceased to be awarded following the December 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union and replaced in 1994 by the Russian Federation’s Medal “For Life Saving” and by ministerial-level awards.
The Medal for Courage in a Fire Design
The medal was circular, originally struck in silver (then silver-plated nickel) with a raised rim on both sides, and measured 32 millimeters in diameter.
On the obverse in the center, the relief image of crossed fire ax and adjustable wrench below a five-pointed star. At the bottom, the relief image of the hammer and sickle over laurel and oak branches, along the side and upper circumference, the relief inscription «ЗА ОТВАГУ НА ПОЖАРЕ» (“FOR COURAGE IN A FIRE”). On the reverse, in the background and to the right, a two-storied house on fire, along the left circumference, a laurel branch, at the forefront and to the left, the relief image of a helmeted firefighter carrying a child.
The medal was secured to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount by a ring through the medal suspension loop. The mount was covered by a 24 mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with 3 mm wide blue edge stripes bordered on both sides by 1 mm white stripes.
