ORLANDO, Fla. — Members of the Rapid City (S.D.) Fire Department were recognized as the recipients of the 2025 Ben Franklin Award for Valor at the IAFC’s Fire-Rescue International conference in Orlando on Thursday. The award recognizes exceptional acts of heroism by firefighters while saving human life.
Firefighter-Journeyman/AEMT Morgan Helton, Firefighter-Journeyman/Paramedic Nicholas Jasnoch and Firefighter-Journeyman/Paramedic Kyle Steen were honored for their work during a vehicle extrication and high-risk gas leak last year.
At 10:41 p.m. on April 9, 2024, a car traveling approximately 117 mph went airborne more than 50 feet and crashed into a three-story apartment building between the second and third floors. The impact ruptured a gas line, causing major structural damage and triggering an explosive leak that threatened dozens of residents in the 61-unit complex.
Firefighters Steen, Jasnoch and Helton on Medic 1 were among the first on scene, quickly extricating a surviving passenger and delivering lifesaving care without protective gear or SCBA as crews evacuated 50 residents to safety from the gas leak.
Fire Chief Jason Culberson nominated the firefighters for their heroic actions.
In partnership with Motorola Solutions, the IAFC Ben Franklin Award for Valor is the IAFC’s most prestigious award. Since 1970, the award has recognized the spirit of service, courage and heroism that is a proud tradition among the world’s fire and emergency services. The program is named for one of the first fire chiefs in the United States, Benjamin Franklin. An inventor, statesman and humanitarian, Franklin was a prime contributor to the wealth of tradition that symbolizes the fire and emergency service worldwide.
FireRescue1 serves as media partner for the IAFC Ben Franklin Award for Valor.
