Sandra Bale, receiving her award outside her home in Belvedere, south east London, from the London Fire Brigade. The mum of a firefighter has been praised for her quick actions after she saved the lives of her neighbours when a fire broke out in Belvedere. The first station officer on the scene said afterwards that he was amazed there hadn t been a fatality, and credited the good fortune to the quick reactions and selflessness of Sandra Bale. The 70-year-old from Bexley was later presented with a Letter of Congratulation after she was nominated by her son for the award. Sandra, of Beckett Close in Belvedere, was locking up her home for the night when she spotted a glow in her conservatory and quickly realised her neighbours’ property was on fire.