Attacked and cut by an assailant with razor knife
Removed the victim under flashover conditions
125 feet above the ground on a 230,000 volt electric tower
Checking on co-worker, shot by an assailant with shotgun
120 feet from shore in a sinking vehicle
Rescued a child from a car 20 feet below the surface of an aqueduct
The descriptions above are taken from the more unusual locations and consequences of this year's winning entries in the Firehouse® Magazine Heroism & Community Service Awards program. This program is the largest of its kind in the United States.
As a firefighter, you never know what the next alarm may bring. In Mesa, AZ, firefighters trained in a scenario involving high- voltage electrical transmission towers only to face, a few hours later, an incident involving just that type of emergency. In Toledo, OH, a fire lieutenant transporting two stabbing victims was shot when he went to the aid of a co-worker whose ambulance was fired upon. In Columbus, OH, a firefighter on a medical run held an attempted-murder suspect at bay until police could arrive. In Montgomery County, MD, firefighters went to the aid of co-workers across the street from their station after a member was cut by a patient wielding a razor.
It's not all about fires anymore. Firefighters save lives in many ways. We would like to provide a special thank you to the generous sponsors of this year's program, who join us in congratulating and acknowledging the members of the fire-rescue service for their bravery and commitment: V.H. Blackinton & Co. Inc., Code 3 Collectibles, The Charles Evans Foundation, Microflex Medical Corp. and The Alfred E. Ronaldson Fund. A special tip of the helmet to this year's judges, all Firehouse® Magazine contributing editors: Battalion Chief Robert Cobb of the Jersey City, NJ, Fire Department; Chief Dennis Rubin of the Dothan, AL, Fire Department; and Battalion Chief Michael L. Smith of District of Columbia Fire & Rescue. You can find the complete descriptions and list of Firehouse® Magazine Heroism & Community Service Award recipients beginning on page 56.
Another tragedy occurred recently in Lake Worth, TX. Three firefighters were killed when the lightweight wood truss roof collapsed during a fire that involved a one-story church. The photo on this page shows a firefighter pulling another out of a collapsed section of the roof. For more dramatic coverage from the scene before and after the actual collapse please see page 76. Stay safe.
We would like to congratulate Contributing Editor John Norman and author James Campbell, both FDNY captains who were recently promoted to battalion chief. Best of luck.
