MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO
Several members of
Kentland Volunteer Fire Department were recognized today for their actions on
two separate incidents.
Prince George’s County
Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor, Deputy Fire Chief Jim McClelland, Assistant Fire
Chief Alan Doubleday and Chuck Walker, President of the Volunteer Fire and
Rescue Association were on hand to help
recognize the deserving members at a ceremony at the Kentland Fire Station in
Landover. Kentland Volunteer Chief Tony
Kelleher and numerous members were in attendance in support of their fellow
members. The award recognized members for their ingenuity and bravery in rescuing a family of three from a burning apartment building.
In the early morning hours of Thursday,
August 27, 2015, units from the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department
responded for an apartment building fire in the 4400 block of 68th
Place in Landover Hills, with reports of people trapped. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find a
3-story (front) and 4-story (rear) garden-style apartment building with fire
showing from within the interior stairwell and extension to the roof.
The first arriving crew from Landover Hills Fire/EMS Station 830
advanced hose lines to extinguish the fire and perform an interior search for
trapped occupants. Additional
firefighters, including members of the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.,
arrived and took a position at the rear of the 4-story building. They observed a family of three on a top
floor balcony adjacent the apartment of origin.
The family’s only means of egress was through the stairwell, which was
obstructed by fire and smoke. The
apparatus carrying ladders tall enough to reach the victims had not yet
arrived, and the ones on the scene were inadequate to access the balcony at the
rear of the building. Firefighters were
forced to use a combination of two ladders, a 28-footer to reach the third
floor and a 14-foot roof ladder that was hung vertically from the fourth floor
balcony. They ascended the 14-foot
ladder, “pompier” style to access the trapped occupants and ensure their rescue. As one victim was being assisted down the
ladders, firefighters provided their air masks to those awaiting rescue. Each of the occupants was safely removed and
placed in the care of EMS personnel for evaluation.
Your performance, as well as the
teamwork and ingenuity demonstrated on the scene of this incident, saved three
lives and is commendable and worthy of recommendation. Therefore, you are hereby awarded a Fire/EMS
Department Emergency Services Award.
Your actions reflect well on you both personally and professionally, the
Kentland Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., and exemplify the excellent caliber
of service we strive to provide to the residents of Prince George’s County.
Member’s receiving
Emergency Services Awards included:
Volunteer Deputy Chief Roger Steger
Volunteer Sergeant Mike Freeman
Volunteer Fire Fighter John Fitzpatrick
Volunteer Fire Fighter Tim Jones
Volunteer Fire Fighter Will Patelis
Volunteer Fire Fighter Chris Richards
Volunteer Fire Fighter Cameron McKay
Volunteer Fire Fighter Kevin Stapleton
Volunteer Fire Fighter Geatano Leone
Fire
Chief Bashoor also presented Emergency Services Award to deserving personnel
for their actions in rescuing a female from her burning townhouse. In addition to a Certificate of Award an
accompanying letter read:
Just past midnight on Sunday, October 18,
2015, you were a member of the crews on board units from the Kentland Volunteer
Fire Department, Inc., which were dispatched to the 10000 block of Campus Way
South for a reported house fire with entrapment. You arrived to find a 2-story townhouse with
heavy fire showing from the second floor.
Engine 833 quickly advanced an attack line to the second floor and began
knocking down the fire. Hearing sounds
that possibly could have been coming from a victim, Tower 833 began
aggressively searching of a second floor bedroom. The search was extremely difficult, due to
the configuration of the bedroom and a large amount of personal belongings
gathered there. Nevertheless, the crews
persevered and were able to locate the victim and remove her from the burning
home. Once outside, she was transferred
into the care of awaiting EMS personnel and transported to the nearest
hospital.
It was later learned that the patient’s
nose hairs were singed and there was soot in her mouth. Had it not been for the quick thinking and
immediate response of you and your fellow crew members, the outcome of this
emergency might have been far more tragic.
Your performance on the scene of this incident is directly responsible
for saving the female victim’s life.
Therefore, it is my pleasure to present to you a Fire/EMS Department
Emergency Services Award. Your actions
reflect well on you both personally and professionally, the Kentland Volunteer
Fire Department, Inc., and exemplify the excellent caliber of service we strive
to provide to the residents of Prince George’s County.
Member’s receiving
Emergency Services Awards included:
Volunteer Lieutenant Andrew Evans
Volunteer Sergeant Michael Freeman
Volunteer Fire Fighter Layne Bynum
Volunteer Fire Fighter Richard Green
Volunteer Fire Fighter Kyle Halm
Volunteer Fire Fighter David Jones
Volunteer Fire Fighter Nicholas Martin
Volunteer Fire Fighter Anthony Rhode
Volunteer Fire Fighter Christopher Rutter
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