Firehouse Magazine Rescue Award Winners for 1999
These winners were recognized in the April, 2000 Issue of Firehouse Magazine.
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| Russell Fields | Orland, ME FD | Chuck Leibold | Virginia Beach, VA FD | ||
| William Benevelli | Boston, MA FD | Eugene Patterson | Orland, ME FD | Mike Lange | Port Ewen, NY FD |
| Frank DeFrancisco | Columbus, OH FD | Anthony Gianantonio | Palm Bay, FL FD | Allen Stokes | Port Ewen, NY FD |
| Robert Youhas | Palm Bay, FL FD | Jerome May | Prince George's County, MD FD | ||
| Michael Dorsey | Columbus, OH FD | Robbie Holland | Florence, SC FD | Edward Morgan | Washington, DC FD |
| John Helsel | Columbus, OH FD | Wayne Joyner | Florence, SC FD | Nelson Magleora | Windsor Locks, CT FD |
| David J. Bognacki | San Diego, CA FD | Christopher T. Kennett | Fernadina, FL FD | Kenneth Palmer | Windsor Locks, CT FD |
| Kevin Cox | San Diego, CA FD | David S. Lang | Boston, MA FD | Herbert Staiger III | Windsor Locks, CT FD |
| John Helsel | Columbus, OH FD | Steven Smith | Hudson Falls, NY FD | Richard Van Wert | Schagticoke, Ny FD |
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On October 3, 1999, while visiting in Stamford, Connecticut, Firefighter William Benevelli, Rescue Company 2, discovered a 64 year old man who had collapsed and was not breathing. Benevelli began CPR with the help of his brother, and continued until the arrival of the Stamford FD. The man was shocked and a pulse was detected. The patient was then transported to the hospital. Firefighter Benevelli’s actions undoubtedly saved the man’s life. |
William Benevelli, Boston, MA FD |
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On October 15, 1998, Firefighter Frank M. DeFrancisco was on his way to work when he came upon an auto accident. Enlisting the help of two bystanders, DeFrancisco pried the hood of the auto from the victim to facillitate an airway. Unable to do any more until rescue companies could arrive, DeFrancisco maintained c-spine and airway in an uncomfortable position until rescue companies could extricate the victim. Although the victim died at the hospital, Firefighter DeFrancisco distinguished himself by giving the victim every possible chance. |
Frank DeFrancisco, Columbus, OH FD |
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On December 27, 1998, Engine 17 was given a description of a possible suspect while on the scene extinguishing one of many dumpster fires on the west side of the city. On the way back to the fire house, they spotted a suspect running between two houses. Firefighter Michael Dorsey chased the suspect on to a porch until the arrival of the rest of Engine 17’s crew. They then called Arson and CPD, and the suspect was taken into custody. The suspect admitted to setting fifty dumpster fires in prior months, causing a substantial loss to the city. |
Michael Dorsey, Columbus, OH FD |
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On the evening of
July 15th, 1999, Eric Wooding nearly drowned at the swim area of Fireman’s
Park. Apparently, Mr. Wooding had tried to shallow dive into the lake and
tripped. His head hit the bottom. He stood, and then passed out. Mr.
Wooding’s children began screaming. Firefighter John Helsel and retired
Lieutenant Mike Johnson came to their aid. Wooding was underwater and
could not be immediately found. Helsel spotted Wooding’s shoulder under
the water.
He and Johnson pulled Wooding from the lake. Mr. Wooding apparently had water in his lungs and was not breathing. Helsel managed to clear his lungs and Mr. Wooding began breathing again. He was transported to a local hospital and was released after 24 hours. Firefighter Helsel and Lt. Johnson undoubtedly saved this man’s life. |
John Helsel, Columbus, OH FD |
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David J. Bognacki |
Kevin Cox |
| San Diego, CA FD |
| On
December 14, 1999 Firefighters Kevin Cox (off duty) and David
Bognacki (on duty) were assigned to pick up an out of service engine with an
in-service engine from Station 23. Both firefighters were returning to the
District repair facility when they came upon a single-family structure well
involved in fire located in the jurisdiction of the San Miguel Fire
Protection District. They notified Fire Dispatch and began a size up. They
positioned the in-service engine. Firefighter Bognacki set up for an initial
attack with a hose line. Unfortunately Firefighter Cox, who was off duty,
did not have his protective clothing with him.
Observing that vehicles were at the residence, both firefighters were aware of the need for a search of the house. The front was now fully involved. With a charged hose line, Bognacki entered through the rear of the structure with Cox at the doorway. |
Bognacki
found an unconscious middle aged adult female in the hallway. He removed
her from the structure, assisted by Cox. The victim was assessed by the
pair and found to be in cardiac arrest. They initiated CPR and
successfully resuscitated the victim, who was then transported by
ambulance to the UCSD Burn Unit in San Diego.
Additional resources arrived on scene and the fire was successfully extinguished. During the attack to extinguish the fire, another victim who had already perished was located.
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Russell Fields |
Eugene Patterson |
| Orland, ME FD |
| On
July 30, 1999, at 1245, Bucksport Fire Alarm received a 911 call for a
reported working structure fire with entrapment. The Orland Volunteer Fire
Department, along with the neighboring Bucksport Fire Department, responded
to the call. Firefighter Eugene Patterson and Fire Chief Russell Fields
arrived with an engine. Bystanders stated that there was a woman at the
second floor window in the rear of the structure. Without any hesitation the
two laddered this window, entered, and removed the woman. She had second and
third degree burns on 40% of her body.
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She was transported by Bucksport FD ambulance to a nearby trauma facility, stabilized, and flown to a burn center. She was in the burn center for two months, and later transferred to a local hospital for further recuperation.
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Anthony Gianantonio |
Robert Youhas |
| Palm Bay, FL FD |
| From
a news story: Two Palm Bay firefighters received recognition for rescue
efforts that saved a woman’s life in a 1997 apartment fire. Firefighter
Robert Youhas said that when they responded from Station 90 to the fire in
Melbourne on Dec. 6, 1997, both dispatch and neighbors said no one was in
the building. Following an explosion that blew out most of the windows,
Youhas and Firefighter Anthony Gianantonio went inside the smoke-filled
building to search through the rubble.
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Gianantonio found a woman lying against a wall. “The only thing I could see was a little bit of white in the back of her neck,” Youhas said. The pair moved aside sooty furniture and carried the woman out. She suffered second and third-degree burns to the upper half of her body.
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Robbie Holland |
Wayne Joyner |
| Florence, SC FD |
| On
February 14, 1999 at 3 A.M. Firefighter Robbie Holland and Lieutenant Wayne
Joyner responded to a structure fire. At the scene they observed heavy fire
and smoke emitting from the home. They were told that an occupant in a
wheelchair was still inside
Joyner and Holland entered the structure in a rescue attempt. Joyner fought the fire with an attack line, allowing Holland to search for the victim.
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He found her, and the two men removed her from the room. Firefighter McCormick met Joyner and Holland in the hallway and assisted them in getting the victim to the exterior of the residence, where Florence County EMS personnel took over her care.
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July 4, 1999. During an outing with his family at the beach, off-duty Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Kennett saw a man floating face down in the waves. He immediately went to his aid and removed him from the surf. His initial assessment confirmed that the victim was pulseless and was not breathing. He began CPR. and had someone call 911. After a few minutes the victim began breathing on his own, his color improved, and he regained consciousness. Fernandina Beach Fire-Rescue Department now arrived and assumed patient care, removed the victim from the beach, and transported him to Baptist Medical Center - Nassau. |
Christopher T. Kennett, Fernadina, FL FD |
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From the Boston Fire Commissioner: On April 26, 1999, while off duty at a health club in Norwood, Firefighter David S. Lang was notified of a fire in the building. Upon investigation he found smoke in the basement locker area and heavy fire in the sauna area. After being assured all people were out of the basement, he found a water extinguisher and attempted to control the fire. The smoke became untenable, forcing him to back out of the basement. He fell and fractured his leg, but continued to direct Norwood fire fighters to the area of the fire, which they then extinguished. Because His actions were performed under rapidly deteriorating conditions before adequate ventilation, without benefit of personal safety equipment and under great personal risk, the Fire Commissioner is pleased to commend Fire Fighter David S. Lang, Fire Brigade, and refers his case to the Board of Merit for further consideration. |
David S. Lang, Boston, MA FD |
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On June 25, 1998
at approximately 1830 Firefighter Leibold was off duty and driving home
when an accident occurred in front of him. He got out of his vehicle to
check on the situation. He found the driver and only occupant slumped over
the steering wheel unconscious and not breathing.
Firefighter Leibold assessed the patient and realized her airway was blocked. He repositioned her head without causing further injury, opening her airway and saving her life. He stayed with her until rescue units arrived.
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Chuck Leibold, Virginia Beach, VA FD |
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Mike Lange |
Allen Stokes |
| Port Ewen, NY FD |
| At
10:50 AM on July 14, 1999 tones went out for a trailer fire. Arriving units
encountered heavy fire from the living room, kitchen and hallway. Lieutenant
Allen Stokes stretched a 1 3/4” hose to the living room area while
Lieutenant Mike Lange finished donning his SCBA. It was then learned that an
occupant might be trapped in the inferno.
Stokes used the attack line to dampen the fire the hallway and entered a bedroom. It was fully charged with thick smoke and intense heat as he started a primary search. The victim was found lying on the floor next to the bed, very confused and disoriented. |
Stokes
started to remove the victim as Lange entered the room to assist. The fire
in the hallway had now grown and was advancing across the ceiling into the
bedroom. The victim was pulled to an outside door with both men using
their bodies to shield the victim from the fire. They removed the victim
and started treatment while awaiting arrival of the ambulance.
The victim had second degree burns covering more than 50% of his body and was airlifted to a Burn Unit. He is still recovering and has extensive therapy ahead of him. |
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At 9:30 am
on December 30, 1999 Firefighter Jerome May was running errands when he
noticed a large column of black smoke coming from about three blocks away.
He got into his car and started in that direction, stopping by the first due
fire station, Silver Hill Fire Station 29, to alert them of an incoming fire
call. He found a three-story garden style apartment building with heavy fire
showing from the front and left side, first and second floors. Some citizens
had climbed up to the lower floor balconies and helped pass several children
and adults to other citizens waiting below. The first arriving engine from
the Silver Hill Fire Station 29 arrived, laying lines. Its crew of four
firefighters hoisted ladders to rescue those on the upper floors. May
assisted in flaking out the lines and then he and another firefighter took a
24 foot ladder from the engine and went to the rear of the building
Numerous residents frantically awaited rescue from the upper floors. Two residents had jumped prior to the arrival of the fire department and sustained hip, neck and back injuries. May placed the ladder to a second floor balcony, where thick smoke and intense radiant heat were directly impinging on the trapped residents and May, unprotected by any turnout gear. He ascended the ladder and assisted four residents down to safety. After this rescue, an engineer handed May a 2 inch attack line. The pump operator told him that fire fighters inside need a hose line. A search and rescue crew was on the second floor checking apartments for possible victims. As they opened a door to one unit, flames leaped out of the apartment door and jeopardized the two firefighters. With no attack line, they attempted to close the door. Fire was escaping from its edges when May passed them the attack line. May then quickly left the untenable conditions, especially without protective clothing. The search and rescue crew used the attack line to knock down the fire in that unit and to protect the integrity of the stairwell. May returned to the front of the building and assisted with firefighters extending hose lines and ladders. At this point firefighters felt and heard a muffled explosion. This explosion alerted most firefighters to leave the building and regroup outside. An evacuation tone was sounded by communications and apparatus sounded their air horns. A few minutes later a larger explosion occurred. This explosion caused a massive destruction of the building. Remarkably, only two firefighters and eight civilians received minor injuries in the fire
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Jerome May, Prince George's County, MD FD |
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At 2 AM on June 1,
1999 a citizen informed EMT Edward Morgan that there was an apartment on
fire. At the time, Morgan was assessing and treating a patient. He
directed his partner to remain with the patient while he checked out the
fire. Occupants exiting the building advised that there were persons
trapped. He noticed smoke coming from the eaves of the two story apartment
building. He entered the front of the building and saw fire showing from a
second floor doorway. He rapidly climbed the stairs toward the burning
unit. The apartment’s door was open. He saw a victim on fire about
fifteen feet from the doorway. He grabbed a sheet, crawled toward the
victim, and put out the fire. He then dragged the victim from the
building. The patient had 2nd and 3rd degree Bums. He was
placed in
Ambulance 26 (Mr. Morgan’s unit) and transported to a hospital.
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Edward Morgan, District of Columbia Fire & EMS Department |
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Nelson Magleora |
Kenneth Palmer |
Herbert Staiger III |
Windsor Locks, CT FD |
| On
Wednesday, January 13, 1999 at 8 PM a telephone call was received via 911
reporting smoke in the hallway of a residence. Arriving police officers
were unable to enter the building due to the heavy smoke. At 2025 hours
Windsor Locks Engine 6, the first due engine, arrived at the three story
store/residence. Arriving just before Engine 6, the Department Chief
established command and found heavy smoke on the second floor common
hallway. A resident reported that she saw smoke coming from under the door
of apartment 2C. The Chief assigned the crew of Engine 6 to advance a 1
3/4” attack line and conduct a primary search. This crew, consisting of
Captain Herbert 0. Staiger III, Firefighter Nelson Magleora Jr. and
Firefighter Kenneth Palmer forced entry into the apartment, where they
immediately encountered heavy smoke . They located the fire in the kitchen
area.
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The
crew quickly knocked down the fire and began a primary search of the
apartment. Searching in the bedroom, Firefighter Palmer found a
semi-conscious woman behind the door of a walk-in closet, experiencing
respiratory distress.
Captain Staiger notified the Chief that they had located a victim. She was wrapped with a blanket to shield her from any additional hazardous conditions and carried outside. Police and fire personnel administered oxygen and provided basic life support until the arrival of the Windsor Locks Ambulance and the Bradley International Airport Paramedic unit. The Engine 6 crew then returned to the apartment to assist in the primary search, which proved negative. The woman survived her injuries and was discharged from the hospital the next day with minor burns. |
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Firefighter
Steven J. Smith responded as a member of Engine Company 361 to a working
structure fire in the Village of Hudson Falls at 1 AM. His company was faced
with a heavy fire on the first floor of a two-story wood/brick multiple
dwelling. The fire had already vented through the windows of a small covered
porch on the side of the building. Police officers on the scene confirmed
that there was an elderly lady located in a living room/bedroom on the first
floor, accessible only by the porch, now almost completely involved in
fire.
Following the orders of his company officer, Firefighter Steven Smith, without the protection of a hoseline, gained access to the heavily involved porch and began to force entry to the door. While he was successful in getting the door open he was quickly driven from the area by the escaping fire and its intense heat. This heat was so intense his turnout gear began to burn. Firefighter Smith extinguished the flames on the sleeve of his coat and then reentered the area of the porch where he was able to assist with the removal of the victim. Only after he was certain the victim was in the care of EMS personnel did Firefighter Smith allow himself to be cared for.
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Steven Smith, Hudson Falls, NY FD |
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On December 10,
1999, a small upstate New York community lost a great man. His name was
Richard Van Wert, but everyone knew him as “Dick”. He was the Chief of
the Schaghticoke FD for the past ten years, and was an assistant chief for
twenty five years prior to his taking the helm. He was a member of this
fire department all of his adult life, with 42 years of service at the
time of his death. The Chief was supervising a controlled burn of some out
of date fireworks. This was a routine task that he had performed several
times before.
However this burn would turn into anything but routine. Chief Van Wert watched as a spark flew from the burn pit into the open door of a van containing the fireworks. He had only enough time to warn the man that was working with him. He yelled for his coworker to run, but did not have time to flee himself. Chief Van Wert was killed instantly in the ensuing explosion. Thanks to Dick’s courageous actions, His coworker survived with minor abrasions. . |
Richard Van Wert, Schagticoke, NY FD |
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