Four men have been honored by the Carnegie Hero Fund for risking their lives to save others in two separate incidents in the district.

The Pittsburgh-based fund honored David A. Cushey, 31, and Troy Gower, 30, for rescuing John D. Semple, 49 from his burning home in Canonsburg. The two men rushed into Semple's home after it was destroyed by a natural gas explosion on Jan. 6.

Gower, now of Jim Thorpe, Pa., but then a neighbor, and Cushey, who was driving by, heard the explosion and climbed through the debris to reach Semple and lead him through the burning rubble.

John Relick, 59, and his son, John Aaron Relick, 34, of Latrobe, were honored for saving Ruth A. Ansel from her burning pickup truck after it struck a tree on Aug. 30, 2003.

John Aaron Relick used a fire extinguisher to try and stop the flames as his father opened the driver's door and grabbed Ansel, 48, who was unconscious. Both men then dragged the woman from the truck moments before it became engulfed.

The hero fund gives medals and $3,500 to the recipients.