Albemarle County Fire Rescue Honors Two Firefighters with Awards for Valor 12/22/2022

[mack]

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Albemarle County Fire Rescue Honors Two Firefighters with Awards for Valor
Post Date:12/22/2022 11:03 AM

During a ceremony held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, Albemarle County Fire Rescue recognized the valiant work of Firefighter Christopher Oakley and Firefighter Benjamen Noble with ACFR's Award for Valor.

The Award for Valor honors ACFR members who have demonstrated exceptional bravery, selflessness, and commitment to the mission. The actions of Firefighters Oakley and Noble are a perfect example of these qualities.

Before presenting the award to Firefighters Oakley and Noble, Fire Rescue Chief Dan Eggleston described the incident that prompted the nomination for this prestigious award.

On Saturday, September 24, 2022, Firefighters Oakley and Noble were on duty at Station 17, a medic-only station that covers the southern portion of Albemarle County.

Around 2 am, Medic 17, staffed by these two firefighters, was dispatched to a fire at an apartment building in the downtown area of Scottsville. Firefighters Oakley and Noble were assigned to this call as the medic unit along with a complement of fire apparatus and chief officers. Firefighters Oakley and Noble arrived on the scene in their ambulance prior to the closest fire station and were faced with the daunting task of responding to an active fire without the support of a fire engine.

Upon their arrival, several things occurred in quick succession. Firefighter Oakley assessed the scene by performing a walk-around of the structure. He observed smoke visible from the second story and met a group of occupants who had evacuated the building, but it was quickly determined that one person remained inside. At this point, Firefighter Oakley updated the Emergency Communications Center that they had a working fire and would be in Rescue Mode. The term “Rescue Mode” is an announcement over the radio system to alert incoming units that an occupant is suspected to be trapped inside a burning structure and firefighters are preparing to enter the dwelling to attempt a rescue.

Firefighters Oakley and Noble donned protective gear and breathing apparatus and prepared to enter the building carrying a portable 2 ½ gallon water can - the fire suppression equipment outfitted on the ambulance.

When they entered the building, conditions required them to force open a door to a second-story apartment to gain access to search for the victim. Once they entered the apartment unit, Firefighters Oakley and Noble found floor-to-ceiling smoke. As they searched for the victim, they worked to keep the fire in check with the water can.

Within minutes, they found the occupant and safely removed her from the building while also continuing to dampen the fire that was actively burning. Once the victim had been taken to safety, Firefighters Oakley and Noble re-entered the building to limit the fire from spreading any further.

Once the first engine arrived on the scene, these two firefighters continued to assist in the fire suppression efforts.

This scenario is one that our department trains for and takes seriously. There are occasions when ambulances are the first to arrive on a scene and firefighters must perform difficult and sometimes dangerous tasks without the presence, or protection, of a fire engine. These two individuals showed that firefighters, without hesitation, will perform their duties to save a life no matter the challenge.

During their response, these two men displayed calm, skill, and courage despite being faced with odds, not in their favor.

Additionally, and most importantly, their exemplary actions undoubtedly resulted in their saving the life of the trapped resident.

Thank you to Firefighter Christopher Oakley and Firefighter Benjamen Noble for your courageous actions and strong work.


From left: Battalion Chief Meade Whitaker, Fire Marshal Howard Lagomarsino, Deputy Chief Heather Childress, Deputy Chief John Oprandy, Firefighter Benjamen Noble, Chief Dan Eggleston, Firefighter Christopher Oakley, Deputy Chief David Puckett, Deputy Chief Emily Pelliccia, Battalion Chief Phillip Burkett



Clockwise from top left: ACFR's Award of Valor, Firefighter Benjamen Noble and Firefighter Christopher Oakley; Chair of Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Donna Price, Firefighter Benjamen Noble, ACFR Chief Dan Eggleston, Firefighter Christopher Oakley, Deputy County Executive Trevor Henry

County News | Albemarle County, VA

www.albemarle.org

Note - ACFR is the fire department our member, "fltpara16", recently retired from as a Battalion Chief.

 

[fltpara16]

Mack,

Thank you for posting this. Both of the firefighters involved would say they were just doing there jobs, and they were. They were also placed in the situation where they were far out in the county with no back-up nearby, and the closest staffed Engine Company 16 miles away. The closest Engine is a call from home Volunteer house that takes a while for the members to muster and respond. This call brings out the need to look at staffing for the future, something most fire departments are struggling with as populations grow without the concurrent growth of services. No jurisdiction is immune from this problem. Fortunately, we drill on this situation and all our personnel have extensive training in search and rescue without the protection of a hoseline or backup on the scene. These two firefighters executed the evolution flawlessly, and the result was a life saved that certainly would have been severely injured or lost without their rapid actions to save her life.

Training pays off, especially when you ask your personnel to work with less than optimum equipment and staffing.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Steve Elliott
Battalion 11, Retired
Albemarle County Fire Rescue.