On the evening of September 10, 2003, Firefighter Clayton Thompson, assigned to Ambulance 435, responded to a medical emergency in the Springfield area of the county.  Upon arrival  Thompson sensed something was out of place, as several people who were gathered outside the residence quickly went into the house. 

As the ambulance crew approached the house, the occupants began to scatter. Finally a man came to the door, and upon being questioned, indicated that his son was sick. At this point, a man (who turned out to be the patient) came from behind Thompson and entered the house.  Thompson asked the patient to come back to the door.  The patient did so, carrying a book in his arms and giving the ambulance crew the impression that he might be hiding something.  While Thompson questioned the patient about his medical condition, the man began to argue with and strike his father in the face.  Thompson and his partner retreated to the safety of their vehicle.   

Thompson's partner called the Public Safety Communications Center and requested police assistance for a domestic dispute.  The disturbed man was now chasing his father and beginning to move aggressively toward the ambulance and the crew.  A Fairfax County Police unit now arrived on the scene and while attempting to diffuse the situation, the patient broke free.  Thompson left the ambulance to assist the officer. 

Clayton Thompson  

Fairfax County VA FD  

Station 35

$100 Award

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On Thanksgiving morning of 2003 Lieutenant Young was at home sleeping in the family room, when he was awakened by his wife, who told him that a neighbor's home was on fire.  He got up and noticed a large column of smoke and fire coming from somewhere within the community.  He immediately contacted Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Station 22 to make them aware of the situation.  Young then ran to the fire. 

On his arrival Young saw a woman and  child walking into the house next to the incident.  They had escaped from the involved house and told Young that a man was still in the structure.  Young now called 911 using his own cell phone to give a correct address and a description of the fire, reporting a single-family split-level home with fire showing from the rear of the structure rising up about fifteen feet above the top of the house.  

A volunteer firefighter from another county had arrived to the residence before Young, and was waiting outside the house.  Young told the volunteer that the lady's husband was still inside the house.  Although they lacked any protective clothing or equipment, Young and the volunteer entered the house.  They encountered heavy smoke and minimum visibility upstairs, with some smoke downstairs.  Young searched downstairs but found no one.  Going outside, Young met the volunteer, who had been driven outside by the heavy smoke and heat.

Young went back inside and climbed to the second floor to search for the trapped man.  As he crawled down a hallway Young heard the shower running in the bathroom.  He kicked the door of the bathroom open and yelled that the house was on fire.  He went back down the hallway when he heard some noise behind him.  He turned around and a man walked towards him.  Young grabbed his arm and led him down the steps to the front door., but instead of going outside, the man went downstairs.  Young caught up with him  and led him outside. 

Young told him that the fire department was on the way and that they would put out the fire.  The man went back inside again to rescue his dog.  Young grabbed his arm once again and led him outside where he tried to console him and explained the importance of his family being safe and that his house could be replaced. 

Daniel T. Young  

Fairfax County VA FD  Headquarters

$100 Award

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Stephen Bennison

James Kranyik

Barry Webster

Medic 27 and Engine 27 were dispatched a run reported as difficulty breathing. Upon arrival they encountered the homeowner assisting one victim. He stated that there was another victim unconscious still in the basement. Firefighters Steve Bennison, Jim Kranyik and Barry Webster rushed to his aid and pulled him from the toxic environment, fully reviving him. As it turned out these two men were doing lacquer work in the basement wearing respirators when the fumes overcame them.

The homeowner luckily stopped home for lunch to check on the progress of the work when he encountered the two workers. One worker was still conscious and he was able to assist him outside. He then called Columbus Fire knowing he was helpless to assist the other lying unconscious in his basement.