Jim Inman's daughter-in-law posthumously awarded Carnegie Medal

HAWESVILLE — The daughter-in-law of Hancock County EMS Director Jim Inman, who died after saving two of her children from a blazing mobile home and while attempting to save a third, was posthumously awarded a Carnegie Medal on Monday for her acts of heroism.

Jamie L. Inman, 24, of Pellville died after passing her 10-year-old stepdaughter, Jesse, and 1-year-old son, Nathan, through a window to save them from a fire shortly before 1 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2002.

She was later found inside the home beside the body of her 3-year-old daughter, Hannah Hutchinson.

Industrialist Andrew Carnegie started the hero fund in 1904 after being inspired by rescue stories from a mine disaster that killed 181 people. The award comes with a $3,500 grant.

The bronze medal is given to people who "risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others."

Inman's husband, Scott Inman, said Monday that officials from the Carnegie Hero Foundation began about six months ago requesting newspaper clippings about the fire.

The grant will be awarded in the name of Jamie Inman's surviving child, Nathan, who will turn 4 on April 26, the same day as his mother's birthday.

The grant will be placed in a college savings account for Nathan, Scott Inman said.

"It made me proud and happy," Inman said. "She deserves this for what she did."

He said while Nathan is still too young to know about the award, Jesse broke out in tears when she heard the news.

Scott Inman suffered burns to his arms and extremities after he managed to pull the children from the blaze as his wife handed them through a window.

State fire investigators believed the fire began in a hallway between bedrooms in the mobile home. The fire was ruled accidental.

Jamie Inman was one of two of the 15 people given the award Monday who died while trying to rescue others.

Jamie Inman was also a recipient of the Life Real Hero Award by the American Red Cross on March 18. With that award, a hand-painted plate was issued along with a Senate Citation from state Sen. David Boswell.

Jamie Inman is the daughter of Paula and Michael Fitzgerald of Owensboro.

Jim Inman is also a Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association board member and a coordinator for the Kentucky EMS Conference and Expo.

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