Chicago Firefighter Awarded Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award

Indianapolis–Firefighter Larrence McCormack accepted the Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award at FDIC’s Opening Session today, saying he “deeply appreciated the honor, but it’s certainly more than I deserve.”

The award commemorates the life and career achievements of Deputy Chief Ray Downey, who lost his life while commanding rescue operations at the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001. Deputy Chief Downey was chief of rescue operations and a 39-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York. He was the most highly decorated firefighter in the history of FDNY.

Firefighter McCormack was awarded for his actions on Aug. 25, 2011, at a fire in an occupied residence in the city of Chicago. He was assigned to the rear of the fire building and was conducting a primary search of the second floor when all members were ordered off the floor due to deteriorating conditions. Captain Tom Ruane and Firefighter Gerald Carter held their position to protect the other retreating members with the hoseline. But then a large amount of fire overwhelmed them, and Carter lost the hoseline and became disoriented.

Captain Ruane returned to the area to attempt a rescue, but became exhausted. He managed to dive for the stairs and was aided by other members, telling them that Carter was trapped. McCormack had just exited the attic area, but when he heard this, he re-entered the attic, which was now “an inferno,” without the protection of a hoseline. He located Carter by the sound of his PASS alarm; Carter was unconscious and barely breathing, and his facepiece had become dislodged. McCormack dragged Carter to the stairs and assisted other members in bringing Carter out of the house, where paramedics revived him.

McCormack is a 16-year veteran of the fire service and formerly served on FDNY’s Ladder 6 in the Bronx. He joined the Chicago Fire Department in 2006 and is currently assigned to Squad Company 5. He’s received numerous awards and citations in his career.

As if his actions on Aug. 25 weren’t enough, McCormack responded to another fire call later that same day, where he and another member rescued an unconscious disabled man from a heavily involved structure.

In his acceptance, McCormack thanked various mentors and his crew. “I accept this on behalf of everyone who operated at the incident,” he said. “Because everyone executed a coordinated fire attack, we were able to remove the downed firefighter.” McCormack also recognized the paramedic who treated Firefighter Carter on the scene, and he thanked and congratulated recently retired Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Robert Hoff, who “literally wrote the book on saving our own,” McCormack said.

Firefighter Carter has since returned to duty. In fact, McCormack noted, Carter “wanted to be on the nozzle on his first day back. That, to me, is the perfect example of courage and valor.”