Following are the nominees for the 2017 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award, excluding the winner Firefighter James Lee Jr, Fire Department of New York.
Firefighter Jamie Brock, Townville Volunteer Fire Department, Seneca, South Carolina
At 1345 hours on September 28, 2016, law enforcement, fire, and EMS units from Townville and surrounding Anderson and Oconee County agencies were dispatched to a reported active shooter at the Townville Elementary School.
The shooter was reported to be at the rear of the building; children were shot near the playground. Within minutes, multiple teachers called Fire Chief William McAdams and EMS Chief Mark Bryant’s cell phones directly to ensure response and to give additional imperative information.
Brock and Chief McAdams immediately responded to the school from the chief’s farm. Other personnel were responding in fire and EMS apparatus.
When McAdams and Brock drove into the rear parking lot, approximately three to four minutes after the start of the incident, they immediately noticed a pick-up that had crashed into the playground fence. Teachers were yelling for help from an open classroom door.
Brock and McAdams split up to cover inside and outside of the school. After quickly checking the wrecked truck for occupants or a gunman, McAdams entered the school to assist the school staff with treatment of the injured.
Brock proceeded along the sidewalk to search for the gunman. As he made his way to the rear corner of the building, he observed the shooter a short distance away in the grass next to another set of doors. Feeling that it was imperative for the safety of the students, teachers, and responders inside, Brock immediately confronted and subdued the shooter. He kept the shooter on the ground until law enforcement arrived and took him into custody.
Over the next hour, the school staff, the Townville Volunteer Fire Department, Fork EMS, AnMedLifeflight, and numerous Anderson and Oconee County fire and EMS mutual-aid agencies worked seamlessly to treat and transport the injured. On-scene responders also helped to ensure the safety and security of those remaining in the school and assisted them in moving all students involved to a predetermined reunification point to be released to their families.
According to media reports, the shooter was a teenage boy. He injured two male students and a female teacher. He was suspected of killing his father.
Brock was presented with the first Fire-Dex Hometown Hero award.
Cedar Falls (IA) Fire Rescue: Captain Derek Brown, Firefighter Troy Purdy, Firefighter Shane Farmer, and Firefighter Todd Taylor
On February 7, 2016, at 2342 hours, Cedar Falls Fire Rescue was dispatched to a residential fire with people possibly trapped. Two engines, a tanker, and seven firefighters responded.
The first-arriving paramedic reported smoke and fire conditions in the home. While responding to the call, Capt. Derek Brown from engine 501 was communicating with 911 Dispatch to confirm people trapped. After receiving confirmation that victims were still inside the house, Brown made the decision to perform search and rescue operations with his crew and advised the second-due engine 503 to begin suppression efforts.
First-arriving law enforcement officers attempted to extinguish the fire with a CAFS system, but they were unsuccessful. The police officers advised Brown and Firefighter Farmer that a mother and two children were at the back of the house. After a brief survey of the home, Brown and Farmer entered the dwelling through a burning door and began an oriented search. Brown and Farmer separated a