Lancaster New Era (Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2006 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.
LANCASTER, Pa. — Lancaster City firefighter Lt. Terry Bracken received the Firemark award Tuesday from representatives of Liberty Mutual insurance for the rescue of two young boys in May.
Bracken did not hesitate to step past a burning mattress and enter a smoke-filled room at 726 N. Franklin St. on May 30. Unable to see through the smoke, Bracken felt until he found 4-year-old Devon Hen and his 2-year-old brother, Alvin, unconscious on a bed. He put a boy under each arm and carried them to safety.
The boys were taken to the hospital in critical condition, but survived the ordeal.
The boys were the eighth and ninth lives that Bracken has saved in his 28 years with the city fire bureau, said Fire Chief Tim Gregg.
“Think of how few of us have the opportunity to save another person’s life, let alone act on it,” city Mayor Rick Gray remarked during an awards ceremony at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“I think we owe you a deep debt of gratitude,” the mayor continued.
Bracken’s recognition with the community Firemark award makes him eligible to receive the insurance company’s national award, company representatives said.