Mayor Jones Presents Medal of Valor, Firefighter of the Month Award to MFRD Captain

Aug 6th, 2013

Today, Tuesday, August 6, at the City Council meeting,Captain Richard “Richie” Harris was recognized by Fire Chief Stephen Dean, Mayor Sam Jones and the City Council as the Firefighter of the Month for July as well as the recipient of the Medal of Valor Award.

The Medal of Valor is presented to an individual or individuals who, through their actions during an emergency incident, did knowingly put themselves at high risk of death or personal injury for the purpose of removing another person from harm’s way.

On March 9, 2013 at around 9:48 p.m. a fire occurred at a single story house located on Farnell Drive.

The occupant and her 4-year-old grandson were in bed together when the grandmother woke up to find smoke in the house and got up to investigate. She said while walking down the hall the smoke got worse so she opened the front door. After opening the front door she thought about her grandson and attempted to go back in and get him but the fire and smoke had intensified and she was unable to get to him. She then exited the structure for help.

Meanwhile the child got up and went into the bathroom in an attempt to get out and/or away from the smoke.

Firefighters were told in route that a child & elderly person were trapped inside. Engine 16 arrived on scene with smoke showing and several people in the front of the structure yelling. Crew members of Engine 16 advanced a line into the rear door of the structure. People by a bedroom window stated they could hear a child inside. Captain Harris entered the window through bedroom and as he got to the bathroom the child was on his knees and reached out to him. Harris grabbed up the child and went back to the bedroom window he entered by.

Members of Truck 24 were removing jagged glass from the window and attempting to gain entry when they were met by Captain Harris at the window with an unresponsive child. He handed the child to them through the window and told them to meet the rescue truck at the street for emergency transport.

The child was transported to the hospital where he later recovered.

The fire was caused by an unattended pot on the stove. The fire was contained to the kitchen area.