A presentation during a recent Richmond Heights City Council meeting offered a reminder of the perilous situations that firefighters sometimes encounter while on duty.
For five Richmond Heights firefighters responding to an early morning call on June 5, dangers included electrified power lines, high levels of carbon monoxide and an unauthorized car breaching the scene.
Lt. Peter Mannarino and Firefighters Aaron Benjamin, Jared Hammond, Liam Kessler and Kevin Moore were recognized for their efforts when they were presented with Distinguished Service Awards by Fire Chief Marc Neumann, during a City Council meeting on Aug. 26, The News-Herald’s Frank Mecham reported.
Neumann said that although firefighters are expected to deal with challenging situations, the scene back in June was particularly daunting.
“We risk a lot to save a lot, we don’t risk a lot to save nothing, some calls you risk everything to save a lot,” Neumann said during an interview. “And on this particular call, they risked their lives to save the life of another person.”
As firefighters arrived on the scene, they discovered that a mid-sized car struck a utility pole, snapping it in half. The car ended up on its side and was engulfed in fire, with the driver trapped inside. Power lines, still energized, enveloped the car, blocking access points that could normally be used. This left rescuers with few options other than to break the windshield, and after laying down blankets, extract the victim.
Neumann said that the cause of the fire was due to the amount of power the utility lines were putting through the car, meaning that every minute spent there was putting firefighters in harm’s way.
“If you don’t act as a cohesive team, quickly, the patient is either going to die or the firefighter is going to die because the only thing that is protecting them at that point is the (rubber) sole of their boots and not being a source for the ground for all the energy going out,” Neumann said. “They were able to safely take out the windshield, and the carbon monoxide level in the car was at 300 parts per million, 10 parts per million is lethal. He is lucky that he didn’t die of carbon monoxide poisoning before they got to him.
“He had relatively minor injuries, and was transported to a local area hospital; a very, very lucky man.”
This wasn’t the only hazard. As they were on the scene, a car blew through the protected barriers that were set up, almost hitting one firefighter in the process.
“There were so many things that could have gone tragically wrong, not only for the patient, but for the firefighters,” Neumann said.
“…It was a very heroic call. It could have easily gone south. I’ve been doing this for 43 years, so I was very proud of the men and believe they deserve to be recognized, and so did the mayor and Council.”
He said that the award was less about the shiny medal itself, but instead about the moment surrounding it.
The News-Herald also commends these five Richmond Heights firefighters for exhibiting professionalism and bravery, and rescuing a motorist from a crash that could have proved deadly.
These first responders truly deserve the Distinguished Service Awards that they received.