Firehouse Magazine, a nationally publicized magazine, selected four Kansas City, Kansas Firefighters to receive awards for their heroic actions in 2011.
More information can be found by going to www.firehouse.com/heroism.
The following is a short summary of the incidents that resulted in the firefighters being honored:
- On Jan. 19, 2011, while Driver Clinton Wheeler was working as a volunteer firefighter in the City of Fort Scott, Kansas, he responded to a house fire in Fort Scott. Driver Wheeler was able to locate a victim in the house and assisted with the removal and medical treatment of the victim. After a lengthy hospital stay, the victim survived.
- On June 12, 2011, Captain Benjamin Huyett and Firefighter/Medic Josh Wagner responded to a house fire in the 5600 block of Yecker Avenue. Captain Huyett and Firefighter Wagner conducted a search above the fire in thick black smoke and high heat conditions. Huyett and Wagner located two victims that were overcome by smoke and heat and removed them from the structure.
- On June 12, 2011 while on the scene of a distraught person threatening to jump from a bridge over I-70, Captain James Letcher scaled a six-foot fence to reach the person. Captain Letcher hung on with one hand while holding on to the person while crews from below were able to raise a ladder and remove the person from the bridge.
