Minneapolis firefighter honored for rescuing kids from February blaze

A Minneapolis firefighter who battled a blaze that killed five children earlier this year will be presented with the Medal of Honor Friday.

Keith Sandberg, a 26-year veteran of the fire department, rescued two children trapped on the upper floors of a burning duplex on Colfax Avenue North in February. But the father of a 7-year-old daughter said he can't imagine how Troy Lewis, the father of the children killed in the fire, is feeling.

"I'm getting an award. He lost five kids," Sandberg said. "Somehow that doesn't seem right."

"I've been to freeway accidents and car accidents and the bridge that fell down and I've been to a lot of stuff where there's been fatalities. This one's pretty memorable because of everything that transpired all at once," Sandberg said. "Because I knew there were kids in there, you're going to step up. You're going to do anything to get the kids out."

The fire was the most intense he's ever encountered, he said. Flames melted parts of his fire gear.

Sandberg will receive the Medal of Honor during a ceremony that will recognize other firefighters as well for their efforts during the fatal fire.