Recognizing efforts made by three or more individuals, or one or more fire companies
1. Dallas Fire-Rescue Department: US&R 19 and Engine 57
When firefighters from Station 19’s Urban Search and Rescue (US&R 19) arrived at a multiple-alarm fire in a three-story, flat roof condominium building, they were immediately assigned as the rapid intervention crew when a mayday was called. A partial collapse created intense fire and smoke conditions that trapped three members of Engine 48’s crew. Engine 57’s officer trained a hoseline to protect US&R 19’s crew—Capt. Keith Massingill, Driver Engineer Joshua Mihalyi and Fire-Rescue Officer Jonathan Keeler—as they made their way through heavy fire conditions and zero visibility. Massingill maintained radio communications with the crew until they located Engine 48 and devised a plan to get them out of the structure. US&R 19 extricated the three firefighters who were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
2. Chicago Fire Department: Engine 109, Truck 32, Battalion 14
Fire was showing from the second floor of a two-story home and extending to an exposure as firefighters received reports of people trapped. Firefighters from Truck 32 located and removed one victim from the first floor as Capt. Robert Ludwig and Firefighter Michael Manchester from Engine 109 stretched the initial attack line to the second floor. When the hoseline got caught, Ludwig took over the nozzle while Manchester followed the hoseline back to remove the snag. Firefighter David Claudio from Ladder 32 found Manchester had been stricken and a mayday was called. In punishing conditions, Ludwig and firefighters Maximilian Avalos and Claudio tried to remove Manchester, but he was stuck and gasping for air. The three worked feverishly to free Manchester and then carried him through intense heat and heavy smoke, down the stairs and to the street.
3. City of Beaver Dam, WI, Fire & Rescue
Just after 6 a.m., four units with five firefighters were dispatched to an apartment fire with entrapment. Heavy smoke was visible from the entire two-story, 13-unit apartment complex and people were seen hanging out windows. Ladder 1271’s operator set up the aerial and removed the two occupants who were hanging out a window. Capt. Lee Smith made attempts to rescue a female who was trapped and calling for help, but he was driven back by smoke and fire conditions. Firefighter/Medic Wesley Jahnke stretched a hoseline through the front door to locate the female, but conditions prevented him from pushing forward despite her pleas for help. Off-duty Firefighter Kyle Nehr teamed up with Jahnke and they found the female ensnared in a metal handrail. They freed her from the railing and removed her from the structure. Off-duty Capt. Russ Johnson, Firefighter/Medic Chris Ackley and Firefighter/Medic John Jatczak located an unresponsive victim and while removing them a firefighter was briefly disoriented before rejoining the crew to remove the victim and begin CPR efforts. Off-duty Lt. Nick Buchda and Firefighters Tom Hill and Brad Modaff attempted to locate the seat of the fire in the basement, but the hoseline became entangled as conditions worsened. Crews were pulled from the structure and soon after, a smoke explosion ignited flames on all levels of the building.
4. Cutchogue, NY, Fire Department: United Fire Company #1
A female struggled to stay above the surface when the shaft of a 400-pound mooring anchor impaled her upper thigh from a sailboat in Cutchogue Harbor. The boat was 100 yards from shore and Chief Lawrence Behr called for the heavy rescue and marine unit. The crew on the marine unit stabilized the female while rescue tools were brought to the scene. Several tools were used until a battery-powered reciprocating saw freed the victim from the anchor. The victim was transported by boat to land and then flown to a trauma center. The entire incident took two hours with more than 40 firefighters on scene.
5. Dallas Fire-Rescue Department: Engine 56
Engine 56 was dispatched to an apartment complex for a female who was assaulted and while the suspect left the scene, it was expected he could return. On arrival, a female came up to the crew—Lt. Jason Johnston, Driver Engineer Charlie McMullin, Fire-Rescue Officer Brandon Shelby and Driver-Engineer Gregg Oliphant—screaming and asking for help. As they dismounted the rig, the suspect appeared with a knife and chased the female and firefighters. McMullin grabbed two spanner wrenches and confronted the armed man, allowing the woman time to get into the apparatus. When the man tried to jump into the rig, Oliphant grabbed him and immobilized his arm. Shelby assisted in getting the man on the ground and removing the knife. They held the man down until police arrived and then treated the woman who was taken to the hospital.
Firehouse Staff
Content written and created by Firehouse Magazine editors.
