The Medal For Courage in a Fire (Var.-2)

The Medal "For Courage in a Fire" (Russian: Медаль «За отвагу на пожаре») was a civilian and military state bravery award of the Soviet Union established on October 31, 1957 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to recognise deeds of courage and of leadership while fighting fires. The medal's statute was amended on July 18, 1980 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR № 2523-X. The medal ceased to be awarded following the December 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was replaced in 1994 by the Russian Federation's Medal "For Life Saving" and by ministerial level awards, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for Emergency Situations both have medals "For Courage in a Fire".

The Medal "For Courage in a Fire" was a 32 mm in diameter circular medal originally struck from silver, later examples were struck from silver plated nickel. It had a raised rim on both sides. On the obverse in the center, the relief image of crossed fire ax and adjustable wrench below a five pointed star. At the bottom, the relief image of the hammer and sickle over laurel and oak branches, along the side and upper circumference, the relief inscription "FOR COURAGE IN A FIRE" (Russian: «ЗА ОТВАГУ НА ПОЖАРЕ»). On the reverse, in the background and to the right, a two storied house on fire, along the left circumference, a laurel branch, at the forefront and to the left, the relief image of a helmeted firefighter carrying a child.

The medal was secured to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount by a ring through the medal suspension loop. The mount was covered by a 24 mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with 3 mm wide blue edge stripes bordered on both sides by 1 mm white stripes.