Firefighter Sub Officer Steve Johns said he was just doing his job when he stopped to help victims of Oxford's Eastern Bypass tragedy on his day off.

The 32-year-old received the Chief Fire Officer's Commendation last night -- an award given only in exceptional circumstances.

He was one of many Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue employees to be honoured at the service's annual Community Safety Achievement Evening at Kidlington fire station.

Mr Johns, of Bicester, was off duty on May 28 when he stopped to help at the scene of the accident, which claimed four lives.

The member of Red Watch, at The Slade fire station in Oxford, was in a car with his wife Kirsty, who was heavily pregnant, father-in-law Mike White and mother-in-law Doreen at the time.

They pulled over and he and Mrs White, a retired nurse, called for help and directed traffic.

He said: "My father-in-law was driving, so he stopped and stayed in the car with Kirsty, and Doreen and I got out to help.

"I just did what I would have done normally, only it was different because I was off duty and without the fire engine.

"I rang the control room and they got the fire engine straight out. They arrived three minutes after I had made the call. It was a huge relief to see the crew turn up."

He said he felt honoured to receive the award, but that others -- including the ambulance service, police and passers-by -- also deserved recognition.

He said: "People have said I did really well, but a lot of other members of the public stopped and did a great deal too, including off-duty nurses and doctors."

Mr Johns, who is now father of three-month-old Daniel, was on duty the day after the accident and went straight back to work.

He said: "It meant I could pick up where I had left off. I don't feel like I deserve the award, as I was just doing my job. I feel very honoured and proud."

Assistant Divisional Officer Mike Bingham praised Mr Johns for his actions. He said: "Steve was fully involved in carefully handling the incident. In doing so, he placed himself at a level of personal risk.

"Unfortunately, this tragic accident resulted in several deaths, but it had real potential to have been worse without Steve's actions."

Marshall Haynes, Josh Bartlett and Liam Hastings, all 13, were killed when the car in which they were travelling careered across the central reservation of the A4142 Eastern Bypass between the Headington roundabout and the junction with Horspath Driftway. It collided with a car driven by student Howard Hillsdon, 21, from Yarnton, who also died. A crash barrier is to be installed at the scene.