FARMINGTON — Sgt. Scott Ferguson has been a police officer in town for 10 years, and is a member of a regional SWAT team, so he has had to do his share of rescues.

But until Saturday, July 2, 2011, he had never had civilians stop at a fiery car crash to help first responders save a life.

Ferguson was on duty that night, as was police officer Colin Wheeler, who is now with the Kingston Police Department.

The two met up just before 11:30 p.m. and joked about how quiet it was for a Fourth of July weekend, Ferguson said. But they spoke too soon.

“He took off one way down Route 11 and I went another, and not but a minute later I heard him sign out with what he thought was a motor vehicle into a tree — tree down,” Ferguson said. “Then he was advising the motor vehicle was on fire.”

Ferguson immediately responded.

By then, four civilians had stopped to assist Wheeler, including Clayton Ball of Rochester, Kris Martel of Rochester, volunteer firefighter Keith Noseworthy of Milton and Archie Martin of Farmington.

Ferguson said the driver of the truck, identified later as Ronald Nisbet, 49, of Gilmanton, was alert, but was pinned by a tree that had come through the windshield, nearly decapitating him.

Wheeler had tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher, but it kept billowing from the engine compartment, Ferguson said. Ferguson used an extinguisher to keep the fire at bay as Wheeler and the four civilians tugged and pulled and finally extricated Nisbet from the vehicle.

Soon after, Nisbet's pickup was fully engulfed in flames, Ferguson said.

“I've never seen him since, but from what I've been told, he's up walking around and doing fine,” Ferguson said.

Having civilians dive into a scene complete with blood and fire was not something he had seen before.

“In 10 years, that's the first time I've ever had a civilian stop at a situation like that and have a civilian ask, ‘What do you need from me,'” Ferguson said. “They put this gentleman's safety ahead of their own.”

That is why all six men, including Ferguson and Wheeler, are being honored this year with a Union Leader Hero Award.

“I think it's great for the agency and for the people to get recognized, but in all honesty, I just did my job,” Ferguson said.