The Boston Police Department recognized Dorchester’s Randle Roache with a blog post last night, calling him a “hero’’ for shoveling out a hydrant on Abbot Street before firefighters arrived at a building fire.

Randle Roach poses in front of the fire hydrant he shoveled out. —Via Boston Police Department

When members of the Boston Fire Department arrived at the fire Thursday afternoon, they saved precious time putting out the fire and evacuating residents because Roache had cleared the nearest hydrant. There were no serious injuries to the 17 residents evacauted.

An officer was impressed by Roache’s act and took the photo pictured here. When he thanked Roache before leaving, Roache replied, “I always keep it clean.’’