Bat Cave, NC, Fire Chief to be Honored at State of Union Address
As Hurricane Helene was raging, Bat Cave Fire and Rescue Chief Steve Freeman went door-to-door warning residents to evacuate.
If they balked, he didn't leave until he had their next of kin's contact information. Freeman then spear-headed the cleanup effort with little sleep for months.
Today, he's in the nation's capital where he will be honored at the State of the Union address tonight, WLOS reported.
"It's very humbling for this honor, and it's really not me – it's all God. And if it weren't for God and the community and all my members coming together, everybody... It's just overwhelming, and it's great to be getting the recognition for the community. It's really not about me," Freeman said.
He thinks about one incident in particular.
"I had a near-death experience during the hurricane where God pulled a post back just enough for me to get my head freed."
For 36 years, he's been helping his neighbors. He'll be accepting the honor for everyone -- his firefighters and his community.
"It's just the fact of helping the neighbors, everybody in the community. It's been that way from the start. You kind of get it in your blood, and it's just the great benefit of being able to know you can help somebody in their time of need."
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.