COLUMBUS, Ind. – Public safety personnel for the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County were awarded commendations Tuesday for their efforts in helping rescue two people from a June 1 fire. Columbus Fire Chief Andy Lay presented the commendations at the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting at Columbus City Hall.
Firefighters were summoned on June 1 to the 800 Block of Reed St. to a residential fire with heavy flames. Crews were able to get two adults trapped in an upstairs window to safety using a portable ladder. After firefighters were able to extinguish the heavy fire on the second floor, three adult cats and five kittens were rescued and given oxygen therapy from Columbus Regional Health Emergency Medical Service. The pets were then reunited with their owners after being assessed and are doing well.
“Our Police Department did a fantastic job of relaying information to our arriving firefighters as to the location of the trapped persons,” Chief Lay said. “When the rescue was complete, Columbus Regional Health Emergency Medical Service was there to address any medical needs. We perform as we train.”
The following received commendations:
Medal of Courage Recipients
Columbus Fire Department: Lt. Ben Whiteside, Pvt. Eric Green, Pvt. Samuel Burnett, Capt. Mike Sieverding, Pvt. Samantha Smith, Pvt. Thomas Nienaber
Exceptional Support Commendation Recipients
Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center Dispatch: Megan Hedger, Haley Kittle, Tony McClain, Belinda Quillen
Columbus Police Department: Capt. Toby Combest
Columbus Regional Health Emergency Medical Services: Paramedic Jessica Hinds, Advanced EMT Jerika Newland, EMT Michael Park, Paramedic John Trappe