Tony Vierra has received the VFW National Lifesaving Award for rescuing a man from a balcony and assisting other residents to safety at an apartment fire in the Lynnwood area last month.

Vierra is a maintenance employee at The Seasons Apartments in the 3700 block of 164th St. SW. where a fire caused more than $400,000 damage on May 2. He quickly retrieved a ladder and rescued a man from a balcony, alerted other residents to evacuate and assisted a woman escape down a smoke-filled stairwell.

Martin Spani, Commander of VFW Post 1040 in Lynnwood, nominated Vierra for the national award. Spani was joined by the post’s Senior Vice Commander Frank Martinez and Chaplain John Zambrano at a brief ceremony to present the award to Vierra at The Seasons Apartments last week. Firefighters from Snohomish County Fire District 1 and Lynnwood Fire Department also attended to recognize Vierra for his lifesaving accomplishment.

“We congratulate Tony Vierra. He is well deserving of this prestigious honor. He did an excellent job in a stressful situation. Flames and thick black smoke were engulfing the building. Thanks to Tony’s quick action, everyone made it out and we didn’t have any serious injuries,” said Mark Correira, Fire District 1 Assistant Chief of Operations, who responded to the May 2 fire.