July 26, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2006-35)
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
R. Steve Huffman
Public Information Officer
(251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813
E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org
JULY FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH
Firemedic Benjamin "Ben" J. McKenna, 31, has been selected as the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department's July Firefighter of the Month. In the early morning hours of June 14, 2006, Engine 23 and Rescue 23 were dispatched to a gas meter and apartment on fire in the 400 block of Westwood Street. As the fire crews arrived there was a large visible flame showing up the side of a 2-story, wood frame apartment building. The fire was going up the outside of the south side of the building and extending under the structure. It was obvious a gas meter actively spewing gas with considerable force was feeding the fire. The firefighters on Engine 23 quickly pulled fire hose off the truck to begin to fight the fire. Using their training in industrial firefighting techniques, the firefighters turned the nozzle of the hose to a fog pattern to trap the gas flame within a power cone water distribution. This trapped the flame within the pattern enabling them to gain control of the gas fed fire. At this time McKenna, knowing that his crew was stressed to manning limits, obtained a hose spanner and approached the potentially dangerous fire that was only contained within a sheer wall of water and turned the gas off at the meter. This caused the fire to be extinguished. This was a text book operation that is not routinely faced in structural firefighting situations but McKenna took on the task nonetheless.
McKenna was not ordered to do this but took it upon himself and acting as part of a team to accomplish a difficult mission. He simply used individual initiative and good judgement in turning the gas off. For his actions, judgement and initiative Firemedic Ben McKenna received the Firefighter of the Month award from the Pleasant Valley Opportunity Club. McKenna has been with the department for over 2 years.
The Pleasant Valley Opportunity Club (formally the Optimist Club) sponsors the Firefighter of the Month program and made the presentation on Wednesday, July 26, 2006.
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