Severely Burned D.C. Firefighters Recognized for Heroic Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the shadow of Capitol Hill today, four District of Columbia firefighters received PBI’s Golden Knights Award for their dedication to serving the citizens of Washington, D.C., during an incident in which they were severely injured. The ceremony occured during the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s annual seminars and dinner and took place in the Rayburn House Office Building Thursday morning.

Just after midnight on April 8, 2011, the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department responded to a house fire at 813 48th Place, Northeast.  With initial reports of possible people inside, the first-arriving fire companies began to make a quick attack in order to knock down the fire and quickly search for any occupants. During the initial fireground operations, a collapse and flashover injured three firefighters assigned to Rescue Squad No.3 and the lieutenant of Truck Company 13. As a “mayday” was transmitted, other firefighters quickly moved in to locate and remove their injured coworkers.

Lieutenant Robert Alvarado and Firefighters Warren Deavers, Ramon Hounsell and Charles A. Ryan III each suffered significant burn injuries. Ryan received the worst, with second- and third-degree burns to over 30-percent of his body. Slowly, and with the support of doctors, coworkers and the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation, each one has made a successful recovery and is back to work protecting the citizens of the District of Columbia.

PBI awarded the four with its Golden Knights award as a salute to their sacrifice and a testament to the benefits of properly equipping today’s modern firefighters. “This is a testimony to the advances in our gear,” stated Lieutenant Alvarado. “If this had happened to us 10 years ago, we wouldn’t be here today.”

Firefighter Ryan remarked that the appreciation and recognition from PBI is not just for him and his burned coworkers: “This goes far beyond us, but should highlight what firefighters face across the country.” Alvarado added that the unique environments in an urban area such as Washington require that the best possible protection be used, as firefighters will never really know what they face until they arrive on the scene.

Bill Lawson, PBI’s Chief Operating Officer, was joined by Congressman Mick Mulvaney (SC-5), Kevin Fortier (PBI Sales Manager) and Alan Myers (PBI Regional Manager), as well as DCFD Lieutenant Steve Mills of the DC Burn Foundation and Ed Smith, President of the IAFF Local 36. As the newest recipients of the Golden Knights jackets, the firefighters join past recipients as a continuing living testimony to the benefits of personal protective equipment.

“It’s important that this event took place here, near Congress, so the politicians can take notice of the critical need to fund fire departments across the country, “stated Alvarado when questioned about the public recognition. Ryan added, “It’s a shame that it takes a near tragedy for politicians to notice what it is exactly that the fire service does. We’re glad that we have the advances today that are in PPE and we hope that the technology continues to get better.”

Union president Ed Smith noted, “This is a world-class department and I am always striving to get my men the best gear possible. We should accept nothing less.”