August 30, 2018 — Crews from Engine 102 and Ladder 150 of the Belvidere, IL, Fire Department have been honored with the top Unit Citation Award, which is part of Firehouse’s larger awards program, the Valor & Community Service Awards. The crews are recognized for their coordinated actions on March 10, 2017, when they rescued several individuals from a fire in a 13-unit apartment building.
Upon crews’ arrival, trapped residents were jumping out of the windows, some were hanging out of the windows screaming for help, and others were trapped inside. First-arriving Engine 102 was tasked with suppression, and Ladder 150 was tasked with rescue.
Ladder 150’s backseat firefighter, Aaron Pihl, positioned two roof ladders to two different windows, aiding two adult males with self-rescue. Lt. Shawn Schadle threw a 24-foot extension ladder and rescued a mother and her two adult sons from a third-floor window. Further, after a mother said her kids were still inside, Pihl and Firefighter Jeff Vaughan entered the fire building to search in zero-visibility conditions and ultimately came across two unresponsive adults on the third floor. At the same time, after completing the ladder rescue, Schadle entered to search as well, and encountered his crew rescuing the two adults. He helped drag an adult male out of the building, and reentered to search for the kids. Using a thermal imaging camera, he located an unconscious 8-year-old girl and carried her downstairs.
The Ladder 150 crew ultimately rescued five individuals with ground ladders and three unconscious victims from the third floor. Seven of the eight individuals made a full recovery. One did not survive, despite on-scene CPR.
Simultaneously during the rescues, Engine 102 Firefighters Mark Beck and Jim Kriebs performed a transitional exterior attack on the fire that was blowing out a lower-level window, and entered for an interior attack. The Engine 102 engineer, Jason Swanson, secured his own water supply. On the way to the lower level, Beck and Kriebs came across an unresponsive 5-year-old boy on the ground floor, carried him outside to medical personnel, and then began suppression. The boy has made a full recovery.
Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach highlighted the crews’ efforts during the incident: “We as firefighters often discuss the ‘big one’—that career event for which we train and prepare every day, never knowing if or when it will ever come. On March 10, 2017, Belvidere Fire Department’s Engine 102 and Ladder 150 responded to the ‘big one,’ and their quick and selfless actions are represented by the seven lives saved that day. While the tragic loss of a young mother will never be forgotten, the lives that were saved are a true testament of the professionalism, training and preparedness of the Belvidere Fire Department.”
The Belvidere Fire Department will receive a cash award for the honor and will be featured in the October issue of Firehouse Magazine.
The other top Unit Citation honorees are as follows:
- Second place: St. Louis, MO, Fire Department – Engine 28, Engine 24, Engine 26, Truck 10, Truck 13, Rescue Squad 2, Hook & Ladder 5, Medic 5, Medic 10, Medic 13, Medic 26, Battalion Chief 805, Battalion Chief 801, Paramedic Supervisor 704
- Third place: San Diego Fire-Rescue – Engine 35, Truck 35
- Fourth place: Chicago Fire Department – Engine 95, Truck 26, Engine 44, Truck 36
- Fifth place (tie): Dallas Fire-Rescue Department – Engine 9; Murrieta, CA, Fire & Rescue – Swiftwater Rescue Team
Crews from 18 other departments responding to 26 different incidents are recognized as honorable mentions in this category.
Firehouse would also like to thank the 2017 Valor Awards Program corporate sponsors: 5.11 Tactical, Alert-All, Blackinton, Columbia Southern University, eDispatches.com, Fire Station Outfitters, Fol-Da-Tank, First-In by Westnet, Liberty Art Works, Marion Body Works, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, Pierce Manufacturing, RollNRack, Waterous Company, Waterway Cooperative and W.S. Darley & Company. Their support and generosity help us honor America’s Bravest.
To learn more about the Valor Award honorees, visit firehouse.com/valor-awards.
About the Firehouse Valor & Community Service Awards
The Firehouse Valor & Community Service Awards is the largest awards program of its kind in the fire service. Nominations for the awards open each year in January, with submissions due in April. To have your department’s acts of valor or community service considered for an award, please e-mail [email protected].
About Firehouse
Firehouse is the leading fire and emergency services brand, reaching more than 1 million unique visitors and subscribers monthly, and thousands of attendees annually, via its live events and media portfolio. The Firehouse brand encompasses Firehouse Magazine, Firehouse.com, Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, Firehouse Station Design Conference and Awards, and a host of print and digital products targeting fire and emergency services personnel. Utilizing its multiple platforms and unparalleled reach, Firehouse sets itself apart from the competition by fostering a culture that encourages innovation and the use of the latest digital and database technologies to best serve its audience and companies serving the marketplace.
