None — The 2010 Unit Citation winners are…
The newly re-formed Company 11, all shifts. For going above and beyond the call of duty in preparing the new Fire Station 11 to open.
Company 1, B-shift For performing extensive renovations to Fire Station Number 1 – on their own time and at their own expense.
Engine 8, Truck 16, Truck 26 and Company 38, C-shifts On December 16th 2009, these companies responded to a working structure fire with the occupant entrapped inside. Through quick and fearless actions of Engine 8 and the other companies, the occupant was rescued from the burning home and successfully resuscitated.
Company 26, B-shift On October 11th, the crews of Engine and Truck 26 responded to a car fire to find the driver entrapped inside. Company 26 was able to fight the fire and extricate the victim from the vehicle. After being removed, the patient was found to be in respiratory arrest and Company 26 successfully resuscitated him.
Company 23, Company 26 and Squad 4 B-shift On August 22nd, these companies responded to find a large tree on top of a small house, with two occupants entrapped inside. With the structure in danger of imminent collapse, the firefighters quickly located the occupants and rescued them from the structure.
Companies 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 14, 15, 16, 20, 22, and Battalion Cars 2, 4 and 5, and Division 1, C-shift On May 9th, these companies arrived on the scene of a fully involved four-story apartment building under construction. With the fire quickly spreading to two apartment buildings next door, these companies' outstanding operations confined the fire and saved the two exposed buildings, one of which was fully occupied.
Company 9, Company 36, Battalion Car 4 and Truck 25, C-shift On a sweltering summer day on June 14th, these companies responded to a horrific two-car crash on I-20 to find four critically injured patients, including two minor children who had been ejected from a vehicle. Through outstanding emergency medical care and scene control, three of the four patients were delivered alive to Grady Hospital.
Company 9 and 36, B-shift On August 27th, these crews performed successful defribulation and CPR on a patient in full cardiac arrest – and that patient is alive today. This is just one example of many successful applications of CPR by Atlanta Fire Rescue this year.
Truck Company 12, B-shift On May 5th, the crew of Truck 12 was responding to a MARTA train fire when they came upon a vehicle trapped by heavy flood waters with one adult, two children and an infant inside. The crew utilized the ladder truck to rescue the occupants from the rising waters and then transported the family to their home, calming and entertaining the children with stuffed Care Bears enroute.
The Team Spirit Award recognizes unit cohesiveness and exemplary group achievement or service by any unit or shift.
The 2010 Team Spirit Award winners are:
Companies 8, 11, 15, 23 and Squad 4, A-shift On October 17th, these units responded to a 3rd-story apartment fire. While encountering zero-visibility conditions, these crews were able search down a 100-foot hallway to locate and rescue two victims who were overcome by smoke, while keeping the fire from spreading. Once the victims were removed, the crews were able to confine and extinguish the fire at the unit of origin.
Companies 1, 2, 8, 14, and 21, Battalion Cars 2 and 3, Division 1 On August 27th, these companies began a 36-hour operation to locate and recover the body of an Atlanta Department of Watershed Management employee, Larry Bradley, who had fallen in to the aeration basin. After exhausting efforts, Mr. Bradley was located 25 feet underground and removed from a 48 inch pipe, helping to bring closure for his family.
Company 14, Squad 4, B-shift On June 28th, Engine and Ladder Company 14 and Squad 4 responded to a call of high-rise workers trapped on a disabled platform approximately 45 stories up the Bank of America Building. Using highly technical rescue training and equipment, these crews assembled rope rigging and sent one of their own over the side of the building to retrieve the trapped workers.
The Citizen's Medal of Honor recognizes the outstanding contributions of a private citizen. The contribution may be in the form of a single act of bravery, exemplary service over a substantial period of time or other significant achievement.
The 2010 Citizens' Medal of Honor Recipients are…
The construction firm Brasfield and Gorrie and the architectural firm Perkins and Will.
These two firms designed and implemented a major renovation of Fire Station 15, donating to the Atlanta Fire Foundation services, labor and materials in excess of $200,000. As a result of their amazing gift, conditions at one of the nation's busiest firehouses are greatly improved for the hard-working firefighters stationed there.
The Civilian Employee of the Year Award recognizes non-sworn members whose overall work, performance, service, spirit and accomplishments warrant special recognition.
The 2010 Civilian Employee of the Year is… Ms. April Thacker
Ms. Thacker is Atlanta Fire Rescue's Special Event Coordinator. She helps to arrange Fire Rescue services for countless concerts, festivals, fairs, parades and other events. In addition to these exhaustive duties, Ms. Thacker chairs or helps lead numerous efforts including the Women's Leadership Workgroup, Disaster Management Leadership Academy and Fire Station Open House weekend. At a recent outdoor concert, Ms. Thacker comforted and cared for the wife of a gentlemen who had succumbed to a heart attack, evidencing the finest traditions of Atlanta Fire Rescue.
The Firefighter of the Year Award recognizes that firefighter whose overall work, performance, service, spirit and accomplishment warrant special attention.
The 2010 Firefighter of the Year Award nominees is… Sergeant Karen Nowakowski
Sergeant Nowakowski is the Command Tech for Battalion 4-C. In addition to performing her duties in an exemplary manner, she is an adjunct instructor at the Atlanta Fire Academy where she trains and mentors firefighter recruits. Additionally, Karen leads charitable efforts for Atlanta Fire Rescue, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure awareness and fundraising and the "Be the Matc"h bone marrow donor program. Karen has also helped provide support and comfort to injured, out-of-town firefighters and their families at the Shepherd Spinal Clinic. In its best traditions, Sergeant Karen Nowakowski is Atlanta Fire Rescue's Firefighter of the Year for 2010.
The Professional Service Award recognizes that sworn or non-sworn supervisor who has rendered outstanding service, or obtained significant results in the performance of their duties.
The 2010 Professional Service Award nominees is… Lieutenant Nicholle Brock
Lieutenant Brock of Station 35 formulated a Career Development Plan documentation system to better facilitate her subordinates achieving their career objectives. She heads Family Dynamics Foundation whose "I Support" campaign sponsors 50 under-privileged children with Sickle Cell and Leukemia to attend summer camps. Additionally, she is active in community organizations too numerous to mention. For all these things, Lieutenant Nicholle Brock exemplifies Professional Service at Atlanta Fire Rescue.
The Award of Merit is presented to members for an act of heroism or bravery involving great personal risk.
The 2010 Award of Merit nominees are…
For the recovery at the R.M. Clayton Treatment Plant, Sergeants Daniel Dwyer and Bryan Dailey, and Firefighters Rodney Deese and Justin Padrazzi
For the rescue of citizens from a fully involved structure without benefit of a water supply, Captain Rick Meyers, and Firefighters Vic Bennett, Terry Moss, and Robert Smith
For valiant actions at a swift water rescue, Lieutenant Kevin Kowalzyk
For pursing a homicide suspect, Firefighter Willie Harris
For the rescue of an occupant from a burning vehicle, Lieutenant William Simmons, Sergeants Douglas Riddick and Alan Stephens, and Firefighters Richard Stanley and Kyung Jung
And the 2010 Award of Merit Winners are…
Sergeants Daniel Dwyer and Bryan Dailey, and Firefighters Rodney Deese and Justin Padrazzi,
Captain Rick Meyers, and Firefighters Vic Bennett, Terry Moss, and Robert Smith and Lieutenant Kevin Kowalzyk
The winners of the 2010 Atlanta Fire Rescue Medal of Valor are…
Sergeant Bill McElevry Sergeant McElvery wrestled a handgun away from a distraught husband who was attempting suicide after his wife had died of a heart attack, preventing him from killing himself. The handgun discharged, wounding the husband in the leg,
Firefighter Richard Stanley At great personal risk, Stanley entered a burning vehicle to extricate and rescue a trapped occupant.
Firefighter Justin Hodges Hodges went over the side of the Bank of America Building to rescue two stranded workers trapped 45 stories above the street.
The winners of the 2010 Fire Chief's Award of Distinction are…
The Buckhead Alliance The Buckhead Alliance has been a longtime generous benefactor to the fire stations in Buckhead. This year, they refurnished Fire Station 21, much improving the working conditions for the firefighters at that station.
Mr. Cedron Johnson Going above and beyond the call of duty, Mr. Johnson designed and implemented a web-based response reporting system and provided outstanding customer service from the Information Technology Department to Atlanta Fire Rescue.
Sergeant Christopher McDougal With numerous professional certifications, Sergeant McDougal motivates co-workers to excel, taking the lead in company training, and providing exemplary customer service.