It is not every day members of the police force are confronted with life threatening choices in the face of imminent danger.

But Sergeant Ben Watson, Constable Timothy Gouverneur, Constable Trent Dole and Constable First Class Blake Goodworth took an oath to protect life and property.

Two years later these actions were acknowledged in the Australian Bravery Decorations.

On May 25, 2017, late in the afternoon, two sets of officers on duty were called to a house fire in Katherine South's Power Crescent.

The fire had started in the kitchen, and black, toxic smoke was seeping out the windows.

"As we pulled up a lady told us there was someone trapped inside, she was frantic," Constable Gouverneur said.

"We ran to the house and tried to find a way in, but all the windows had mesh security screens and we couldn't get in.

"It was extremely hot, you could feel the heat emanating from the walls."

With no other way in, Sergeant Watson and Constable First Class Goodworth kicked down the door.

Smoke bellowed out as it broke down. Household items were melting and the walls were beginning to bubble with heat.

"We all charged in without second guessing it," Constable Gouverneur said.

"You couldn't see 30cm in front of you because the smoke was so black and thick."

A woman had fallen unconscious on a mattress below the smoke line, and was pulled from the burning building, while Constable Gouverneur and Dole checked the remaining rooms of the house for others in danger.

"I held my breath the whole time, I was preparing for the worst," Constable Gouverneur said.

Sergeant Ben Watson had extended his shift, racing to the call for help.

As he pulled the woman to safety, St John Ambulance officer in charge Rhys Dowell, who was off duty at the time, arrived and treated the woman.

"It was a community effort that got us all out and safe," Sergeant Watson said.

"We might not have gone in if the lady wasn't there - but you could see the fear on her face."

As it goes in smaller towns void of a 24/7 fire rescue service, and heavily reliant on volunteers, immediate response cannot be counted on.

"We knew it was down to us to get her out," Sergeant Watson said.

"Time slowed and everything felt like it was taking too long.

"But as we got through the door, it was one of those moments where we looked at each other and there was no doubt. We knew we could count on each other, and we were going in together."

The courage, selflessness and sacrifice of 74 Australians have been recognised with Australian Bravery Awards.

Announced this week by the Governor-General, The Australian Bravery Decorations are part of the Australian Honours System, established in 1975, recognising acts of bravery in other than warlike situations, by people who put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.

The Katherine officers are among nine groups awarded for their collective act of bravery, receiving a Group Bravery Citation.

"Australian Bravery Awards recognise and celebrate Australians who, faced with a dangerous or perilous situation, think not of themselves or their own safety but about others," the Governor-General said.

"These individuals deserve our admiration - they are an inspiration and examples of the sort of selfless sacrifice that we can all aspire to."

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