TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- Air Force firefighters recognized their top performers Aug. 16 to 20 at the annual Department of Defense and Federal Fire and Emergency Services Training Conference in New Orleans.
A California man who displayed an extraordinary feat of heroism and an Air Combat Command fire department received top honors as the best of the best.
The Air Force firefighters Heroism Award honored Charles Brooks from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., who saved the life of a Santa Barbara County fire captain. When the captain fell onto a downed 9,000-volt power line, Mr. Brooks used wild-land firefighting hand tools, not designed for high voltage rescue, to hook onto the victim's canteen belt and pull him off the live power line. The captain suffered second- and third-degree burns but will return to full duty.
Firefighters from Langley AFB, Va., received the Air Force's Fire Department of the Year Award for their around-the-clock rescue operations during Hurricane Isabel. When the storm surge caused a 9-foot tidal wave to overwhelm their shore community, the firefighters rescued 20 people and moved 100 patients to the hospital.
Other winners include:
- DOD Fire Academy Instructor of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Stacey Harter from Goodfellow AFB, Texas.
- Military Firefighter of the Year: Airman 1st Class Cody Marion from Peterson AFB, Colo.
- Civilian Firefighter of the Year: Dionicio DeHoyos Jr. from Vandenberg AFB.
- Military Fire Officer of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Ronald Meyers from Peterson AFB.
- Civilian Fire Officer of the Year: Linc Weinrich from Columbus AFB, Miss.
