FORT BELVOIR, Va. (May 3) -- The Installation Management Command honored several Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services personnel as IMCOM Heroes of the Day, April 23.
Eight indiviuals received praise from Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, IMCOM commander and Installation Management assistant chief of staff, during a video teleconference.
IMCOM's Hero of the Day recognizes people who inspire leadership within the command. Lt. Daniel Oliver, Capt. Jeffrey Cox, firefighters Sean Kerrigan, Shawn Shade and Luis Gomez, and firefighter medics Roger Kennedy, Valoree Brown and Ernest Desantis rescued and revived a victim during a home fire in Dogue Creek Village in December.
"I'm inspired by your actions and very thankful," Ferriter told those assembled during the teleconference. "There's no greater satisfaction in our jobs than knowing you're making a difference."
The firefighter's effort gave the victim a chance for survival, but the victim passed away days later.
"Unfortunately something bad has to happen before people can see what we do for them," said Richard Monroe, FES fire and rescue acting deputy chief.
According to John Weaver, Fort Belvoir fire marshal, a candle started the fire that December night.
Many of the firefighters were sleeping when they received the emergency call requesting them to respond to a fire around midnight.
"We need to be up, dressed in our gear, on that truck and out the door within 90 seconds," said Kennedy.
The crew quickly assembled and departed the fire station within the regulated time and they were the second company to arrive on the scene.
The crew helped place ladders, fans and lights around the burning home while another emergency response team contained the fire to the dwelling of origin.
Cox recalled the fire blazing out of the front door window and smoke flowing from the second floor.
"I heard someone out in the front yard yelling that someone was in the house," Cox said.
Kerrigan and Oliver swept through the house searching for victims and found one at the top of the home's staircasing overcome by smoke.
The men carried the victim out of the building and Kennedy was one of several firefighters and medical crews who provided immediate care.
The respondents provided appropriate on-site treatment and the victim regained a pulse before reaching Fort Belvoir Community Hospital.
The firemen explained that rescuing a victim during a fire is extremely rare because most people escape houses before response teams arrive. When people are trapped, intense fire and smoke take their lives before firefighters can conduct a rescue. Dogue Creek was the first rescue in Kerrigan's 23-year career.
"Most fire scenes, you can be on 100 of them, there's always stuff that seems to go wrong," Kennedy said. "On that fire I think everything went pretty good. It ran smooth."
Kennedy and Cox attributed frequent training to the team's ability to respond to the situation. They still, however, wish the circumstances would have turned out better for the deceased and numerous people impacted by the fire.
"It's like my wife says, at least the Family got a chance to say goodbye," Kerrigan said. "We extended that time period."
IMCOM typically honors three "heroes" per week who are innovative, provide great customer service or great leadership, as a way to recognize and inspire leadership.
Monroe said the company's recognition shows that there are well-trained personnel protecting and leading the installation.
"The guys did a heck of a job that night," Monroe said. "It's bad that the event had to happen but they came together as a group; they worked together well. Our units got there quickly, worked very well and made the rescue as quickly as you can expect."
In total, four Families were affected by the fire. One Family lost all of their belongings; the other Families' belongings incurred smoke damage.
Relief efforts for the Families started immediately in the fire's aftermath as residents, on-post and off-post organizations donated clothes, toys, furniture and other items.
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