Godfrey ‘Good Neighbor’ Awarded For Swift Actions During House Fire

Village of Godfrey Board of Trustees: Public Safety, Finance, Board Meetings

GODFREY – A local woman who acted swiftly to help save the occupants of a burning home is Godfrey’s latest Good Neighbor Award recipient.

Tamara Jones was presented with this month’s Good Neighbor Award by Trustee Sarah Woodman at the Jan. 6, 2026 Public Safety Committee meeting.

Woodman said Jones was leaving her home in the Seasons Subdivision one afternoon last October when she saw what appeared to be smoke rising from a house in her neighborhood.

“Tamara could have driven on by – some might have. But sensing that something wasn’t right, she stopped to investigate,” Woodman said. “That is when she discovered the smoke was coming from the back porch [of the residence].”

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Jones then dialed 911 and knocked on the front door to alert any inhabitants when she saw a young boy and a dog still inside the house. She quickly alerted the 911 dispatcher that the burning home was occupied, and as the flames and smoke grew in intensity, began banging on the front door to alert the occupants.

“Fire and smoke rapidly engulfed the home. Neighbors started showing up with hoses to try and protect the neighboring house, as its siding began to melt off from the heat,” Woodman said. “As departments from Godfrey, Brighton, Jerseyville and QEM battled the fire, neighbors provided drinks to the firefighters and first responders.”

Woodman said that after firefighting efforts continued for an extended period of time, each family member escaped the home without physical harm. The family’s dog was injured during the fire, but was taken to an area animal hospital and has since recovered.

“Had it not been for the actions of Tamara Jones that day, the situation may have been much worse,” Woodman added. “As she stated, ‘God put me in the place where I needed to be.’”

A full recording of the Jan. 6, 2026 Godfrey Finance Committee, Public Safety Committee, and Village Board meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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