Firehouse Magazine Rescue Award Winners for 1999
These winners were recognized in the April, 2000 Issue of Firehouse Magazine.
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| Cliff Melton | Kentland, MD FD | William C. O'Rand | Cortlandville, NY FD | Wayne Snow | Mayer, MN FD |
| John Merlino | Boston, MA FD | Eftathios Papadopoulos | Norwalk, CT FD | Wade Stock | Watertown, MN FD |
| Robert Mullikin | Washington, DC FD | Robert Pickel | Bladensburg, MD FD | Matthew D. Salow | Walled Lake, MN FD |
| John W. Windsor | Washington, DC FD | Charles F. Pollock | Baltimore County, MD FD | LeRoy S. Sisley | Seattle, WA FD |
| Shaun Murray | Rochester, NY FD | Rych Pullen | Kentland, MD FD | Timothy Wrenching | St. Charles, MO FD |
| Barry O'Connor | Rochester, NY FD | Michael M. Romano | Fuller Road, NY FD | Richard Yackel | Rochester, NY FD |
| William Valentine | Rochester, NY FD | Kevin Terry | Fuller Road, NY FD |
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On May 4, 1999
units from the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to a
house fire. Upon arrival the units found a one story duplex with heavy
fire showing from the front and heavy smoke coming from the attic and side
windows. The homeowner approached firefighters and said that his grandson
was still in the house. Volunteer Captain Eddie Lehan quickly spoke with
his hoseman, Firefighter Tony Veith, and the Tower crew to coordinate a
plan of attack.
Veith knocked the fire down around the front door and in the area to the right of the door. This provided protection to the search crew from Tower 33 as they passed him to get to the rear of the house. Veith repositioned the line to better effect a knockdown of the fire and protect the search crew, while being careful not to push the fire toward the rear of the house. Captain Lehan and Volunteer Sergeant Cliff Melton passed Firefighter Veith and began a primary search of the house. Shortly after entering the rear area of the house, Sergeant Melton heard a faint cry. Even with some of the fire knocked down, the search crew was experiencing zero visibility and high heat conditions. Keeping close to the floor and following a wall, Melton turned into a back bedroom and found an unconscious boy. Melton removed his facepiece and placed it on the child, and yelled to Lehan that he had found a child and was exiting the house. Shielding the child from the heat and smoke, Melton quickly left the house and turned the child over to Volunteer Firefighter Gary Steen, who promptly initiated medical care. After being assured that the child was cared for, Sergeant Melton returned to his duties in the house.
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Cliff Melton, Kentland FD, Landover, MD |
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On May 11, 1999, while on vacation in Aruba, Fire Fighter John Merlino, Ladder Company 17, heard cries from the beach of a person drowning. He responded and found a 70 year old man face down in three feet of water. He pulled the unconscious man to the shore with the help of another vacationing fire fighter from Michigan. The victim, a retired Massachusetts State Police Officer, had no detectable pulse or respiration and his skin was blue. They immediately started CPR and continued for fifteen minutes before he began to breathe on his own. About five minutes after this an “ambulance”, which was a cargo van without oxygen, arrived and transported the man to a hospital. |
John Merlino, Boston, MA FD |
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Robert Mullikin |
John W. Windsor |
| District of Columbia Fire -EMS |
| December
28, 1998 at 0421 hours Rescue 1 and other units responded to a house fire.
It was reported that a woman was trapped on the third floor. The three-story
row house had been converted into a multiple family dwelling.
Rescue 1 teams A and B entered via the front door with Engine Co. 6, who were advancing an attack line to the first floor. Squad 1’s team A, led by Lieutenant Robert P. Mullikan searched the second floor. Firefighter John W. Windsor of Truck 42 located a woman towards the rear of the second floor. |
Windsor removed the unconscious victim to safety, assisted by the crew of Rescue 1. Mullikan and Firefighter Green continued to search. In a rear apartment they found an unconscious girl. Egress was attempted by the rear porch but it was not accessible by ladder. Rescue 1 Team B members Kemp and Ward helped Mullikan through the building to the staircase. This assistance saved valuable time in getting the child to the first floor entrance. Both victims were hospitalized and survived the fire. |
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Shaun Murray |
Barry O'Connor |
William Valentine |
Rochester, NY FD |
| On September 27, 1998, firefighters responded to a report of a gas explosion. Upon their arrival they were told that a person was trapped in the basement under the burning debris that comprised the remainder of the house. Through flames and intense heat, with gas still leaking from a broken pipe and with the possibility of a second explosion, Lt. Shaun Murray, together with Captain William Valentine and Firefighter Barry O’Connor, removed debris to uncover the basement stairs. |
They entered the basement, where Murray found the victim. With the help of Valentine and O’Connor, he removed him from the burning wreckage. Although tragically the victim did not survive, this in no way diminishes their efforts.
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On April 13, 1999,
At 8:30 P.M. Clarence Green’s car left the road, sped down a ravine and
crashed into a tree. Flames began to erupt from the engine compartment.
The Cortlandville and Virgil Fire Departments were activated.
Cortlandville Volunteer Firefighter William O’ Rand responded from his
residence near the scene. He arrived within minutes of the accident. The
driver was wedged under the dash. O’ Rand entered the car and found that
the victim’s entire body was lying horizontally across the dash. His
feet were pinned under the accelerator and brake pedals and his upper body
was underneath the passenger side dash.
With heavy fire and smoke pushing through the fire wall and no protection afforded by turnout gear, SCBA, or a hoseline, Firefighter O’ Rand worked feverishly to free the semi-conscious man. O’ Rand freed the man’s feet and began pulling him out of the vehicle. At this point fire broke through the fire wall onto O’ Rand and the victim. O’ Rand pulled the victim clear of the vehicle. The victim survived his injuries. O’ Rand was treated for smoke inhalation and second degree burns to his hands and arms.
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William C. O'Rand, Cortlandville, NY FD |
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On December 18, 1999 Firefighter Steve Papadopoulos was driving home from his day shift at the Norwalk Fire Department Station 2 when he came upon a vehicle which had driven off the road and into a mailbox. There were several bystanders around the car, so Steve stopped to see if anyone was injured. Climbing in the vehicle, he found that the driver was slumped over the wheel in cardiac arrest. Steve pulled the man from the car, laid him on the ground and began CPR. Without the benefit of a pocket mask or any other protection, Steve performed mouth to mouth respirations, while instructing a bystander to give chest compressions. They continued CPR for approximately five to ten minutes before a paramedic ambulance arrived on scene. The medics immediately defibrillated the victim and transported him to the hospital. The man was in critical condition for several days before receiving surgery and at last report was home from the hospital. |
Efstathios (Steve) Papadopoulos |
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Lieutenant
Pickel received his award his actions at two incidents.
First Incident: Telesquirt 9 and other units were dispatched for a reported building fire on 30 October 1999 at 0220. Telesquirt 9 laid a second supply line with engine 93 picking it up. The T-9 crew, with Lieutenant Pickel in charge, entered the building. They began an aggressive search of the adjoining apartments to rescue trapped occupants. Pickel shined his light into the apartment that was on fire to check on the crews operating. The light beamed across what looked like a foot. He had discovered an elderly woman laying on the floor unconscious. Pickel called firefighter Vince Pickel over to his location and with his help lifted the victim and carried her out of the fire apartment to safety. The victim received emergency care from the Telesquirt 9 crew and was transported to a hospital. Second Incident: Telesquirt 9 and Engine 93 were dispatched for a report of a house fire. -T-9 was the first arriving engine at the address, with smoke showing. The crews advanced an attack line to the first floor to confine and extinguish the fire. Lieutenant Pickel started a search of the house. As he ascended the stairs to the second floor he discovered an 18-year old girl lying on the floor. He started dragging the victim toward the stairs, where he was joined by another firefighter. The two men carried the victim down the stairs. As they reached the first floor, the Telesquirt crew continued to protect the exit passageway as the two firefighters carried the victim to safety.
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Robert Pickel, Bladensburg, MD FD |
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On October 1, 1998,
Engine 12 was dispatched to a reported apartment fire at 0027 hrs. Turning
off Martin Blvd. onto Cedar Drive there were no signs of fire or any smell
of smoke. Turning left onto Oak Grove Drive still nothing visible. E 12
proceeded up Oak Grove Drive. The crew looked to the left and fire was now
visible at 25 Oak Grove Drive. Approaching the front of the
building, Firefighter Charles F. Pollock heard people yelling that a woman
was still trapped inside on the second floor.
Pollock said he would try to reach the woman via the interior stairs. Lt. Pam Maclean positioned herself inside on the stairwell to protect the only means of egress from the building. Pollock made his way past the fire apartment, up two flights of stairs through thick smoke to the trapped woman’s apartment. He made his way to the window, calling to his crew members to let them know he was there. Pollock advised that the stairs were hot and smoky, but he felt he could get her out. Taking one arm of the woman over his shoulder and placing one arm around her waist, Pollock took the woman down two flights of stairs through intense smoke and heat to safety. |
Charles F. Pollock, Baltimore County, MD FD |
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On December 25,
1999 at approximately 1121 hrs. the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department was
dispatched to an apartment fire. Sergeant Rych Pullen drove Tower 33 to
the building’s rear to make rescues. Pullen spotted the big rig and
helped place two ground ladders to rescue two civilians from upper
windows.
When the rest of the crew entered the building to search for victims, Pullen, left alone, used ground ladders and the tower ladder to rescue three more civilians on the second and third floors, above the fire apartment. He also helped other firefighters to remove four other victims from the building. |
Rych Pullen, Kentland FD, Landover, MD |
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Michael M. Romano, Jr |
Kevin Terry |
| Fuller Road FD, Albany, NY |
| It was Saturday morning at 5:30 AM when the Fuller Road FD was dispatched to a structure fire. Assistant Chiefs Michael Romano and Kevin Terry reached the scene before the arrival of apparatus. Residents said that there where two family members trapped upstairs. Romano and Terry entered the house, moved down the hall, and located the stairs in the back of the house. They encountered heavy black smoke down to floor level and moderate heat. They began a search of the second floor. Romano entered into the first room and Terry went on into the next room. After a short period of time Terry located the first victim and he called out to Romano to assist him in removing the victim. | As they began removing the victim from the second floor they met the first arriving engine crew, who were advancing a handline into the building. Romano advised them to continue on with the search. Romano and Terry removed the victim from the building and handed him over to EMS. They then re-entered the building to help search for the second victim. Romano soon found her. They removed her to the outside of the building, where EMS was waiting. Both victims where unconscious upon being located. The first victim died shortly after arriving at the hospital, and the second victim lived for a short time at the hospital before later dying of her injuries. |
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Wayne Snow |
Wade Stock |
Mayer, MN FD Watertown, MN FD |
| On
September 3, 1999, Wade Stock and Wayne Snow were at their jobs as
carpenters on a construction sight in a rural area near Mayer, Minnesota.
They were summoned for help by a well driller, also working at the sight,
who found his partner buried in a trench.
With only a band visible, they both jumped into the hole to help free the trapped man. Risking their own lives, as the trench could have easily collapsed further, they both dug with their hands.
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Firefighter Snow took only enough time to dial 911 from a cell phone. As they reached the buried man’s head with the help of the well driller’s backhoe, they could see he was blue and not breathing. They worked frantically to free the dirt from his chest. It was only then that the trapped man struggled to breathe. Had it not been for these two volunteer firefighters at their job that day — a man would be dead. Their quick response made the difference. |
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Fire Officer
Salow drove the department’s pumper to the fire scene. Prior to arrival he
was notified by the dispatcher that there were people trapped inside. Upon
arrival he was notified by the police officer on the scene that he had
rescued three occupants, but he felt that all occupants were out. Salow
donned an SCBA and entered the structure, looking for both the extension of
the fire and to see if all occupants were out.
Visibility was zero and the heat level was high. He found an occupant lying on a bed and carried him from the building. After the paid on call firefighters arrived, a quick knock down was accomplished. The victim was treated for smoke inhalation and was released from the hospital two days later. |
Matthew D. Salow, Walled Lake, MI FD |
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On May 28, 1999,
Firefighter Sisley was on his way home from work at Station 10 when he
noticed light smoke coming from the direction of Interstate 5. As
he neared the Interstate, he noticed people yelling for help. He found a
severely-beaten woman in the front garden. She was not breathing and had
no pulse. Sisley began one-rescuer CPR. He continued until the arrival of
a Deputy Chief from the Shoreline FD. The Shoreline chief assisted him
with two-rescuer CPR until the arrival of the first Medic Unit.
Meanwhile, the assailant had barricaded himself in an unoccupied house nearby, in which he found a cache of firearms and ammunition. Shortly thereafter, gunshots rang from this house. The assailant had left a trail of destruction in his wake, including the motor vehicle accident on I-5 that had initially alerted Sisley to trouble. The suspect had crashed into a motorcyclist on the freeway, severing the rider’s leg. He had then dashed on foot into the nearby neighborhood. Shoreline Police reported that they had found another injured woman in the backyard of a residence located between the command post, where Sisley was, and the house now occupied by the gunman. Sisley grabbed his personal first aid kit and proceeded to the second victim, keeping himself low and out of the line of fire. The woman had been assaulted with a hammer. With bullets flying overhead, Sisley and Shoreline Fire treated her wounds. A police cruiser now raced to their location in reverse and delivered a wounded police officer to Sisley and the Shoreline Fire crew. The police officer had been hit in the head by a bullet. Sisley assisted Shoreline Fire with the treatment of the wounded officer. After the police officer was transported, Sisley continued to care for the second patient until the arrival of a third Medic Unit. He returned to the Command Post and assisted the Incident Commander for the remainder of the siege. In the end, the assailant killed four people, seriously injured a police officer and a civilian motorist and hurt two other police officers.
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LeRoy S. Sisley, Seattle, WA FD |
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On January
29 at approximately 4 AM department units responded to a structure fire with
reports of a person trapped. Fire units arrived and initial crews attempted
entry, but fire conditions blocked interior access to the front of the
house. It was at this point that Firefighter Wersching was made aware of the
possible location of the child, and he entered the fire area through a side
window with the assistance of police officers on the scene.
Wersching entered the house alone and without the aid of a hoseline. He located the child, moved him to the window and passed him outside to awaiting police officers. |
Timothy Wersching, St. Charles, MO FD |
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On November 18,
1999, Engine 17 was dispatched to a house fire with a report of people
trapped. Upon their arrival, distraught family members told firefighters
that an eight-year-old boy was unaccounted for and that his last known
location was a second floor bedroom in the 2 1/2 story house, which was
showing flames and smoke from several windows on both the first and second
floors. Lieutenant Yackel set up a ground ladder to the second floor,
entered a bedroom and began a search without benefit of a hoseline.
He found the youngster, not breathing and without a pulse, and handed him off to other firefighters who transferred him to an ambulance crew. The child was revived on the way to the hospital. He has recovered fully and was able to attend a Thanksgiving party at the neighborhood fire station. |
Richard Yackel, Rochester, NY FD |
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