PGFD FIREFIGHTERS DOMINATE FIREHOUSE MAGAZINE HEROISM AWARDS

MEDIA CONTACT: M.E. Brady,
Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

The combined career and volunteer personnel of the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department (PGFD) received high honors and the most awards from a fire service trade magazine.

FIREHOUSE MAGAZINE HEROISM and COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS, April 2011 issue, has recognized more PGFD Firefighters then any other fire department in the Country.  PGFD awards include one of the highest honors, 2 unit citations and 19 individual heroism awards.

College Park Volunteer Fire Fighter Justin Davidson was a top award winner for actions he took in saving his own family from a fire.

Personnel from the Fire/EMS Department's Seventh Battalion and Training Academy were awarded a Unit Citation for the valiant rescue attempt of two victims from a residential swimming pool in Upper Marlboro.  Major Leroy Smith, Major Butch Leonhard, Battalion Chief Grady Valencis and Fire Fighter Darryl Bullock received the Unit Citation.

Kentland Volunteer Firefighters were also awarded a Unit Citation for the rescue of a downed firefighter inside a burning Kettering home.  (this incident was inadvertently left off of last years awards and awarded this year.)

Firefighter/Medic William Vanarsdale and Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Fighter Kyle Schultz were recognized for the rescue of an adult male from his burning Lanham home.

Fire Captain Steve Gallagher and Acting Fire Fighter/Medic Lieutenant Bino Harris were recognized for their bravery in assisting county police in the removal of an unstable man from the icy Northwest Branch.

Kentland Volunteer Chief Tony Kelleher and Volunteer Firefighters Joe Brown, Charles Moser, Curtis Patterson, Oleg Pelekhaty and AJ Smith were awarded for rescuing three occupants from a burning Landover apartment building.

Several members from the Hyattsville Fire/EMS Station were recognized for their actions in removing two occupants of a burning apartment.  These members include Fire Fighter/Medic Lieutenant George Flanagan, Fire Fighter/Medic Technician Chris Blackistone, Fire Fighter/Medic Technician Steve Tabak and Hyattsville Volunteer Firefighters; Matt Leonard, Ethan Sorrell, Steve Whitman and Nik Zupancic.

Fire Fighter/Medic Captain James Jiron was awarded for his heroism for alerting and assisting two occupants out of a burning home while he was off duty and did not have the protection of his personal protective equipment or a hose line.

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