Fort Worth Firefighters recognized

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Updated: Saturday, May. 5, 2001 at 23:25 CDT

Fort Worth firefighters recognized; 2000's tornado provided

many of the hero-making moments for recipients

By Melendez

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH -- Heroic rescues tied to last year's tornado

dominated the annual Fort Worth firefighters' awards banquet Saturday night. But

firefighters who rescued people and animals from fire and water were also among

recipients of the 23 awards.

Two-time Medal of Valor recipient " Buster " was

named Firefighter of the Year after saving five people, including his 4-year-

old son, , who almost drowned in a backyard swimming pool.

had been honored at last year's banquet for pulling

3-year-old Wayne from a car that had rolled to the bottom of

Lake Arlington. He began mouth- to-mouth resuscitation on while they

were still in the water.

volunteered for 10 years before becoming a career

firefighter. He is assigned to Station 3, one of the busiest in the city, and is

a member of the Dive Team and Haz-Mat Team. He is also trained as an emergency

medical specialist.

He received the National Medal of Valor in 2000, as well as a

local Medal of Valor, one of the department's top honors, for the

rescue. A few months later, he saved his son who nearly drowned in a swimming

pool. He performed advanced life support and took his son to Cook Children's

Medical Center. The boy regained consciousness two days later and has recovered.

About 700 Fort Worth firefighters and their families attended

the dinner at the Round Up Inn sponsored by the Friends for Fort Worth

Firefighters.

The Rescue of the Year award was given to Engine 27B

representatives Mike Price, Don Metcalf and J.W. Brunson. They, along with

firefighter Mike of Bell Helicopter, saved eight people from the rushing

Trinity River after a tornado hit Fort Worth on March 28, 2000.

During the storm, the firefighters found two people hanging

onto trees, three hanging onto a pickup truck, and three others in a car that

had been swept into the river near Trinity Boulevard. Two other people died

after they were carried away by the river before the firefighters arrived.

The Specialty Operations Employee of the Year award was given

to Dive 3, a team of 12 who launched an inflatable rubber boat into the raging

river to help locate survivors. They found the car that had been swept away, and

one firefighter dove in to lift the car and check for victims. None were found.

Team members were Landon Stallings, Randy Malone, Roy Bingham,

Kris Carr, Collard, Randy , Troy , Mark , Buster ,

Gerald Lawson, Armond and Steve Larison.

The Company of the Year award went to Engine 22C members Jeff

Novak, Childs, Todd Brook and Matt Otey, who last May saved a man and his

two dogs and cat from a structure fire. Later that month, they also save a dog,

four parakeets, two cockatoos and a goldfish from another fire.

The awards ceremony also honored volunteers, civilians,

support staff and retirees.

Melendez,

mmelendez@...

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