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COLUMBUS, Ohio

The Columbus City Council honored a Columbus police officer Monday night for saving the life of a mother last year.

Just three days before Christmas, Officer Rufus Goodwin helped rescue the woman from her burning home.

“We recognize officer Rufus Goodwin for his heroic actions taken as a member of the Columbus Division of police,” said Columbus city member, Mitchell Brown.

Officer Rufus Goodwin says he was simply doing his job on December 22.

“I’m not going out to try and get these every day or anything, I’m just doing my job, that’s all,” said Officer Goodwin.

He and his partner arrived to the 1200 block of Wilson Avenue to a home engulfed in flames, and a woman trapped on the roof. Officer Goodwin didn’t waste any time.

“She needs to get down,” said Goodwin. “That’s about it, and the house was on fire.”

Goodwin says her five children had already made it to safety thanks to the help of neighbors who heard the mothers cry for help.

The children were able to jump off the roof into the arms of neighbors.

But their mother was too afraid to make that leap, so officer Goodwin risked his own life and went inside the burning home.

“It was a lot of smoke in there, couldn’t see very well,” said Goodwin. “Focused on getting there and back.”

“It is because of his dedication that this family was able to spend the holidays with their family and avoid tragedy,” said Brown.