Unit Citations are chosen by Firehouse Magazine to exemplify a company’s teamwork, dedication, poise and control under pressure, and expertise in the field. The fire service strives to coordinate the scenes where we perform each day, and this year’s honorees highlight that collaboration.
Chicago Fire Department
Engine Company 49
Lieutenant/Paramedic Michael Beam
Engineer/EMT Maureen Bracken
Firefighter/Paramedic Felipe Velez
Firefighter/EMT Christopher Killham
Firefighter/EMT Robert Dillon
Truck Company 33
Captain/EMT Gerald Hughes
Firefighter/EMT Kevin Jeziorny
Firefighter/EMT Michael Guzman
Firefighter/EMT John Barrett
Firefighter Matthew Burkowski
Battalion 19, Engine Company 49 and Truck Company 33 were dispatched to a working fire in a residential structure with people trapped inside. Battalion 19 took command of the scene, Engine 49 laid hoseline and Truck 33 had the main ladder going to the roof for ventilation. Firefighters from Engine 49 and Truck 33 were able to force open a window, tearing through plastic insulation, and remove a 1-year-old child, its mother and one adult male. Both the mother and child were removed to a local hospital with burns and smoke inhalation.
Chicago Fire Department
Engine Company 93
Lieutenant/EMT Michael Rogers
Engineer Lloyd Leftridge
Firefighter/Paramedic Christian Howe
Firefighter James Danaher
Firefighter/EMT Stephen Grandberry
ALS Engine Company 93 was dispatched for a man down in a single-family residence. Upon entry, they found an 87-year-old male, slumped in his wheelchair, at the entrance to the kitchen. One member noticed that all four burners of the stove were on high and the oven door was open and the oven was on. An unconscious female was found on the floor of a bedroom. Another was found on the floor next to the stove. Soon after a fourth person collapsed. With carbon monoxide poisoning suspected, command ordered everyone out of the structure. All four patients were treated and recovered from their injuries.
Fairfax County, VA, Fire & Rescue Department
Engine 413
Truck 106
Tower 430
Rescue Squad 418
Rescue Squad 421
Technical Rescue 421 (Staffed by Engines 418 & 421)
Medic 413
Battalion 404
EMS 404
Safety 403
Several units from Fairfax and Arlington counties were dispatched to a trench collapse. Upon arrival, one worker was found buried to his chest in a trench that was approximately 20 feet deep. The worker was conscious, alert and able to communicate with responders; however, the trench was extremely unstable. As rescue options were reviewed, it became apparent that none of the traditional approaches were viable. Crews developed a plan that involved vacuum trucks, shoring, a trench shield and PVC pipe, among other approaches. The worker was successfully extricated after being trapped for more than 8 hours.
Green Ridge, PA, Volunteer Fire Co.
Rescue, Ladder Truck & Utility
Fire Chief Mike Evans
Deputy Chief Ken Dawson Jr.
Safety Officer John Dill
Firefighter/Paramedic Sara Walters
Firefighter/EMT Mitch Holobowicz
Firefighter/EMT Joe Carr
Firefighter/EMT Neil Gunnet
Firefighter/EMT Conner Hughes
Firefighter/WMT J.J. Evans
Firefighter Dan Brees
Firefighter George Cornog
Firefighter Megan O’Donnell
Firefighter Brian Pierce
Firefighter Andrew Potter
Dispatched for a reported water rescue, crewmembers found a mini-van with three trapped occupants submerged above its windows and pinned against a fence post in the washed out roadway along the Chester Creek. The water was rising, and the van was drifting downstream. The rescue crew used a hook to break out the sunroof and secure the two children with lifelines. As the father was brought onto the aerial, the post the van was pinned on gave way and the van drifted down stream out of sight.
City of Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue Service
Truck 31
Engine 1
Rescue 26
On arrival at a house fire, crews found fire had broken through the roof and engulfed the entire attic. Two firefighters began search and rescue operations using a TIC. They found a victim lying on the floor in the hallway. With fire burning above them and conditions worsening, the victim was dragged into the living room for easier accessibility. He was then brought out of the building and transported to the hospital.
City of Wichita Fire Department
Engine 9
Acting Lieutenant Robert Kerschen
Firefighter Vince Laufer
Firefighter Triston Block
Firefighter Jake Walton
Truck 3
Acting Captain Chad Dunham
Firefighter Lance Gifford
Firefighter Charles Helm
Firefighter Jared Webber
Engine 5
Captain Vern Rohlman
Firefighter Kevin Moberly
Firefighter Jeff Poe
When Engine 9 arrived at a reported structure fire, they found extensive fire involvement on the Alpha side of the building. The fire, which had originated in a first-floor apartment, had vented out the window, causing significant fire involvement of the second- and third-story apartments, trapping several residents. There was also heavy fire involvement in the attic. While one member set a ground ladder and began to rescue the occupants, remaining members deployed a handline and swept the fire away from the most severely threatened victims. Moving about the building, the crews made save after save. Acting Capt. Dunham entered and ascended the common stairs in near-zero visibility with moderate heat conditions. He located a semi-conscious victim and pulled the victim to safety. In all, the three initial-arriving crews rescued 8 occupants.
City of Wichita Fire Department
Truck 1
Lieutenant Josh Pavelski
Firefighter Micah Hoelscher
Firefighter Stephen Runyan
Responding to a call of smoke in an apartment, Truck 1 entered and was met with heavy smoke conditions. They quickly extinguished the fire as search efforts began. An unconscious victim was found lying on a mattress in the fire room. The victim was promptly removed from the studio apartment, prior to EMS arrival, and firefighters initiated patient care, including inserting a combitube. The victim was pulled out of the structure one minute and fifteen seconds after the arrival of Truck 1.
City of Wichita Fire Department
Truck 2
Lieutenant Nathan Neises
Firefighter Seth Goodin
Firefighter Justin Camfield
Firefighter Jeremy Law
Truck 2 responded to a house fire with heavy fire showing from the Alpha side. As the crew prepared for ventilation operations, they learned of a woman trapped inside. They forced the door, pushed through the smoke, found the woman and carried her out of the structure where cardiocerebral resuscitation (CCR) was initiated. A pulse was regained and the patient began taking gasping breaths. After transferring care, the crew then returned to complete the ventilation operations.
City of Wichita Fire Department
Engine 2
Captain Jim Wilson
Firefighter Josh Brubacher
Firefighter Cole Perry
Upon arrival at a house fire, Engine 2 witnessed flames break through the front window and onto the porch area of a single-story wood-frame dwelling. Engine 2 stretched an attack line, while Truck 2 forced open the front door. Engine 2 quickly pushed their way inside and upon entry confronted heavy fire involvement throughout the entire front room. After knockdown, they located a victim behind some furniture and hastily transported the victim outside to the awaiting crew for care.
