11 firefighters were recognized for their “bravery and quick action” when they rescued two residents from a townhouse fire near Deerfield in April.
Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Firefighter Candidates Kevin Jacks and Michael Jack; Lieutenants Alex Nunez and John McWilliams; Firefighter/Paramedics Chase Hellinger, Ben Blonsky, Steven Burnell, Scott Schmidt, Ted Kazeos and Kevin Haltman; and Battalion Chief Jason McKenna were recognized at the May 15 fire district board of trustees meeting for their bravery and quick actions at a house fire.
The Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District responded on the evening of April 4 to a house fire in the 600 block of Martin Lane in unincorporated Deerfield.
Crews received reports of a kitchen fire at a two-story townhome with one person who was possibly trapped, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Steve McCaughey said at the time.
The 11 firefighters recognized were the first-arriving companies, and they found smoke coming from the front door.
Crews pulled a hose line and met with a man at the front door who reported that his wife was still inside, McCaughey said.
They encountered high heat and smoke conditions banked down to the floor.
The firefighters entered the house and rescued the woman.
Both the man and his wife were transported to the hospital, McCaughey said.
The woman suffered serious injuries, while the man suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation.
Firefighters eventually extinguished the fire.
“We are very proud of these individuals!” the fire district said on Facebook.