Ian McBain was asleep in bed when his wife Brenda went outside for a cigarette and suddenly saw flames billowing into the night sky on Vale Street in Sebastopol.

Rushing outside, Mr McBain realised a unit was burning that belonged to his neighbour – who only has one leg – before he decided to run to his aid.

“I went in and it was full of smoke, I couldn't find him,” Mr McBain said.

“I yelled out and then heard a moan on the floor, got underneath his arms and lifted him up. As I was dragging him outside he said ‘my unit’s on fire’, and I said, ‘mate, don’t you worry about the unit, we’re getting out of here’.”

The unit’s ceiling collapsed only minutes after the two managed to escape as CFA crews arrived on scene and extinguished the blaze.

One year on, Ballarat police decided to break tradition and award Mr McBain with a certificate for his bravery at a ceremony usually only held for sworn officers at the Ballarat Specialist School this week.

For Mr McBain, the night of the fire on March 7 last year reminded him of his son, Ian junior, who died when scaffolding collapsed while he was at work when visiting CTM Engineering in Delacombe in 2005.

“My young bloke was killed 13 years ago in a workplace accident,” he said.

“They couldn’t save him, but I saved this fella from dying. Things can be tough, but that’s life I suppose. I’ve had a lot of people who are very proud of what I did.

“It was a job that had to be done, and I’ve gone in and done it.”

Superintendent Jenny Wilson, who is in charge of all Ballarat police, said Mr McBain saved his neighbour’s life.

“I wouldn’t advocate that people put themselves at risk and run into burning houses, but I think Ian’s behaviour emanates a spirit that is part of our regional community,” she said.

“We’re most grateful he undertook those acts and that he and his neighbour are now safe and well.”