STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Four Alpha Fire Company firefighters, all Penn State students, were honored for rescuing a fellow firefighter who was injured in a fall while crews battled a fire at the historic Woodward Inn in October.
Lt. Kara Stover and firefighters Diego Gomez, Jason Jiang and David Barnfield were cited for their “professionalism and bravery” during the fire, according to a recognition presented during the Centre Region Council of Governments General Forum meeting.
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Alpha Fire Company was among multiple fire departments dispatched to a second-alarm fire at the 211-year-old building in Haines Township, Centre Region Fire Director Shawn Kaufman told StateCollege.com.
At the scene, Alpha’s Rescue 5 was reassigned to advance a hoseline through the front door for a first-floor fire attack. Captain Christopher Martin was trying to gain position when the floor collapsed, sending him about 10 feet into the basement, where he landed on his shoulder and suffered a significant injury.
Firefighter Diego Gomez also fell into a hole but landed on an exposed floor beam, officials said. He made verbal contact with Martin, began coordinating the rescue and alerted other crewmembers while requesting a ladder.
Despite being injured, Gomez helped Martin up a ladder, while Stover, Jiang and Barnfield assisted both firefighters back to the first floor and out of the building.
“Rescue 5 performed a rescue of a downed and injured firefighter with a high level of professionalism, dedication and calmness,” Kauffman said. “Performing this rescue demonstrates the dedication and commitment of the Alpha Fire Company members and represents the best traditions of the fire service.”
Have you been involved in the rescue of a firefighter during a mayday? Tell us the details and lessons learned.
