CONCORD, N.H. -- Two New Hampshire rescue workers -- one a Manchester firefighter, the other a New Hampshire State Police trooper -- appeared before their fellow first responders Monday and received their applause and well wishes.
Firefighter Keith Knight and Trooper Scott Frye attended the opening day of the 12th biennial convention of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire.
The union, which represents more than 1,200 active firefighters across New Hampshire, recognized the two for their heroics.
On April 29, both worked to pull an injured driver from his badly damaged vehicle just off Interstate 93 in Andover, Mass. A fire from the accident had ignited nearby brush, and Gov. John Lynch said Monday that he thought the two might die trying to rescue the driver, an off-duty police officer from Peabody, Mass.
"They had a fire extinguisher, courage and ingenuity. They relied on their training and just went to work," said David Lang, president of the firefighters' union.
Lang said when most firefighters arrive at a scene, they wear protective gear and have equipment in their fire engine.
But Knight and Frye saw the accident unfold in front of them. Knight was off-duty and driving home to New Hampshire. Frye, whose assignment is to be chauffeur and body guard for Lynch, was driving the governor and Dr. Susan Lynch back to New Hampshire from Logan Airport.
The driver, Steven R. Marques, 61, of Methuen, Mass., was rushed to Lawrence General Hospital, where he spent several days.
Frye and Knight appeared at the convention with family members, including their children. Also on hand: Manchester District Fire Chief Mark Pelletier, State Police Col. Robert Quinn, Fire Academy Director Perry Plummer and Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Firefighters.
"There is no higher honor for firefighters and police officers than to be recognized by their peers," Lang said.
Schaitberger honored the Knight and Frye families for the commitment they showed to the careers of their loved ones.
About 70 firefighters were on hand for the convention. Lang said the convention will go for four days, and members will consider 22 different resolutions that will cover positions on issues and changes to union operations.
Copyright 2012 - The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
