June 5, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2006-26)
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
R. Steve Huffman
Public Information Officer
(251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813
E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org
MAY FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH
Firefighter Terry D. Fleming, 39, has been selected as the Firefighter of the Month for June. Fleming was nominated for his actions at an apartment fire that occurred on Joel Court. When the engine Fleming was assigned to arrived on the scene around 2:00 a.m. first they saw heavy smoke showing from the apartment building. Upon further inspection they could see fire through the window of the apartment but were blocked by burglar bars on the front door. The Captain on the truck called the ladder truck which was in route and ask them to step it up because they needed the K-12 saw to cut through the bars and make entry to search for possible victims and extinguish the fire. Fleming stepped forward and said to the Captain "You want me to get that door Captain?" The Captain acknowledged him and told him "absolutely". Fleming went back to the truck and pulled off a halligan tool and within a minute he popped the burglar bars and firefighters were able to advance into the building to put out the fire. Fortunately it was a vacant apartment. Had Fleming not single handedly forced entry into that apartment the fire would have extended throughout the rest of the apartment building and would have affected more families and caused them to be homeless. For his actions Firefighter Terry Fleming received the Firefighter of the Month award from the Pleasant Valley Opportunity Club. Fleming has been with the department for over five years.
The Pleasant Valley Opportunity Club (formally the Optimist Club) sponsors the Firefighter of the Month program and made the presentation on Wednesday, May 31, 2006.
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