Three Buffalo Grove firefighters, who were called “brave and courageous,” were awarded on Monday for their actions in saving four people who were trapped in a burning building.
Buffalo Grove Fire Department Lt. Daniel Downey, Firefighter-Paramedic Phil Schroeder and Firefighter-Paramedic Kyle Ditthardt were awarded unit citations during a village board meeting on Monday evening.
The incident happened around 8:11 p.m. on August 14 in the 1500 block of Pheasant Trail Lane in Arlington Heights.
Numerous fire departments were dispatched for multiple 911 calls of a fire at a townhome.
Dispatchers were also receiving reports of victims trapped inside the building.
Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Lawrence Kane said Downey, Schroeder and Ditthardt were on Tower Ladder 25 and arrived just after Arlington Heights Engine 4.
The Arlington Heights fire crew was pulling a hose line to extinguish the fire.
Kane said Downey spotted multiple people trapped on a balcony at the rear of the building with heavy heat and smoke traveling to their location.
Downey called for a ladder to the rear of the building, Kane said. Schroeder proceeded with a ladder and quickly raised it to the two trapped occupants.
Ditthardt proceeded to the rear of the building with another ladder to rescue additional trapped occupants on a separate balcony.
Kane said Downey and Schroeder, “with no regard for their personal safety,” gained entry to the building and conducted a search under high heat and heavy smoke conditions. No additional occupants were found.
“Whereas these gentlemen will shrug their actions off as just doing their job, the actions of these three individuals had a positive outcome on the lives of four individuals,” Kane said.
The fire chief said his firefighters performed “to the highest tradition” of the fire department and the fire service, calling their actions brave and courageous.
The firefighters were given a standing ovation during the village board meeting as they received their awards.