RUMFORD — Matthew Roy, whose actions during a July 6 fire at Madison Condominiums prevented serious injuries or loss of life, was presented the Rumford Good Citizenship Award at Thursday’s  selectmen meeting.

In presenting the award, Police Chief Stacy Carter said, “Mr. Roy undoubtedly put his own safety at risk to help others to safely get out. The officers that responded to that fire scene advised us that without the swift actions of Mr. Roy to alert the occupants, there would have been serious injuries or the loss of life.”

On behalf of the Town of Rumford and the police and fire departments, Carter presented Roy with the Good Citizenship Award, along with a Rumford Police Department challenge coin. The coins are given to those who go above and beyond.

Board Chairman Jeff Sterling read an email he received from Janet Ramey, who had been a resident at Madison Condominiums.

“On July 6, Matthew Roy saved my life, and the lives of several others living at the Madison Condominiums. If it wasn’t for his bravery that morning, the outcome might have been very different.

“He is a courageous, humble young man who deserves to be recognized for his quick thinking and his superhuman strength to knock on doors to wake up so many people who were fast asleep.

“I want to thank him publicly not only for calling 911, but coming to my rescue. I will never forget the sound of him pounding on my door or the words he was yelling. He woke me up from a sound sleep. It was chilling, yet life saving. I will, for the rest of my life, have respect and gratitude for Mr. Roy and hope to meet him personally one day.”

In an interview on July 8, Roy said he was driving to work at Cross Excavation in West Bethel at 4:15 a.m. on July 6 when he saw flames coming from the back of a unit at Madison Condominiums on Route 2.

He said he drove into the development, walked around the back, saw Unit 4 was on fire and called 911. He ran around to the front of the building and pounded on the door of Unit 4.

“The people weren’t coming to the door so I kicked it in and that woke them up,” Roy said.

He went to the other nearby units, pounded on doors and kicked in one when tenants did not answer. Running back and forth along the line of doors, he and a man from Unit 4 cleared more of the building, he said.

Within 10 minutes, police showed up and together they finished clearing the complex, Roy said.

This was not the only reason for Roy’s presence at the meeting.

Selectmen later approved a quitclaim deed for Roy for 744 South Rumford Road after he paid a total of $10,141 to cover taxes and legal fees.

At the Aug. 4 meeting, the board voted 4-1 to allow Roy to take ownership of the tax-acquired property, formerly owned by Roy’s parents, pending payment in full of all back taxes, current taxes, and any fees and to include a covenant that the property cannot be transferred for 10 years.

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