Captain Maurice Vautier Named August Firefighter of the Month

Maurice Vautier Named

August Firefighter of the Month

Mobile, AL - At approximately 1100 hours on Sunday, July 22, 2018, off-duty Fireboat Captain Maurice Vautier was in the process of launching his personal boat at the Mobile Causeway for a family day on the water. Captain Vautier received word that a serious boat accident had just occurred nearby under the I-10 Bayway. Captain Vautier instructed his daughters to stay on the dock as he and with his wife proceeded to the scene. On arrival, a mangled boat was discovered with three persons in the water and one still aboard the boat. None of the accident victims were wearing flotation devices.

In the water, an adult male was attempting (with much difficulty) to hold an unresponsive female’s head above the surface of the water. Captain Vautier immediately pulled the unresponsive female onto the damaged vessel and saved the adult male from the water. He then proceeded to pull another incapacitated female, who appeared deceased, from the water. There was also a male with severe leg trauma still in the boat. Captain Vautier and his wife rendered initial first aid and took the damaged vessel into a fast tow to a nearby ramp, where he was met by arriving fire and EMS crews who took over patient care.

The end result of the accident was one female victim killed on scene, one male patient succumb to injuries en route to the hospital, another female transported in serious condition to a local hospital, and the male boat driver taken into custody. Captain Vautier’s quick actions mitigated a tragic scene, likely saving the lives of an unresponsive passenger and the boat’s driver.

Captain Vautier’s heroic actions exemplify the best traditions of the Mobile Fire/Rescue Department, which is why Fire Chief Mark Sealy is proud to honor Fire Service Captain Maurice "Bubba" Vautier as the August 2018 Firefighter of the Month.