MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Firefighters never know when they are going to be called to help someone — whether they are on-duty or off-duty.

In the case of Milledgeville Fire Rescue Battalion Chief David Ussery, it was the latter.

He and two others helped save the life of an 18-year-old woman trapped inside her car following a fiery crash.

It could have been a tragedy, and the victim could easily have lost her life were it not for those three people jumping in and doing what they could do to save her life. As it turned out, she was rescued just in the nick of time.

During a special ceremony held at the start of the Milledgeville City Council meeting at city hall Tuesday night, Ussery was honored by his superiors, fellow firefighters, family, and city officials for his heroism. 

“We have a very special ceremony to recognize the valor of Milledgeville Battalion Chief David Ussery,” Milledgeville Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan to those in attendance.

After the ceremony, the mayor told Ussery that the event was a great honor.

“And we are so proud that the city of Milledgeville has such an outstanding person that knows their job and does it well, and goes beyond and above the call of duty on his 8- or 16-hour shifts,” Parham-Copelan said.

She publicly thanked Ussery for his heroic deed.

“Sept. 15 was a bright and beautiful Sunday morning,” recalled Milledgeville Fire Rescue Chief William Collier. “For Battalion Chief David Ussery, a 16-year veteran of the Milledgeville Fire and Rescue Services, along with his family, were on their way to church.”

As the family was driving along Interstate 16 and the I-75 Interchange, Ussery noticed a car wreck and smoke rising over the interchange bridge.

So, Ussery pulled over to check out the situation more closely.

Collier told the crowd during the ceremony that Ussery saw where a car had gone off the expressway and down an embankment. 

“Almost as a matter of instinct, firefighting training rose to the occasion,” Collier said. “Battalion Chief Ussery made his way down the steep embankment to ensure that there was no one in the car.”

Unfortunately, there was someone in the car.

It later was learned that Alyssa Jackson was trapped in her car.

“Not only was Alyssa entrapped in the vehicle, but the vehicle was on fire,” Collier said. “Chief Ussery immediately asked his wife and other passersby to pass down fire extinguishers.”

 Ussery was able not only to manage the fire but along with the help of two other people was able to rescue Jackson, too, Collier added.

Firefighters with the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department later arrived on the scene and were able to assist the victim, along with personnel from Grady Emergency Medical Services.

“It is for this act of bravery shown by this 16-year veteran, Battalion Chief David Ussery, we are awarding him with the prestigious medal of valor for going above the call of duty during a time of severe and extreme danger to a citizen,” Collier said.

The city fire chief asked the mayor to put the medal of valor around the neck of Ussery. As Parham-Copelan participated in the honor, the crowd burst out with thunderous applause for Ussery, who is considered a hero by many.

“This ribbon is to be worn on your uniform as a reminder of what happened on Sept. 15 and your act of bravery,” Collier told Ussery, as the two men embraced. “Thank you so much.”

Ussery also received a big hug from the mayor, and hugs from his wife and other family members, as well as handshakes from many of several of the city firefighters who attended the ceremony at City Hall.