July 13, 2011
October 29, 2014
Vol 13 No 28
Cottleville Firefighters Honored
Recipes
11
Fettuccine Pumpkin Alfredo
Around Town
4
Business
7
School
6
Carshow for a Cause
Rydberg, Smoot and Haake. Photo courtesy Cottleville Fire Protection District
Firefighters Joel Rydberg, Tom Smoot, and Ryan Haake accept Medal of Valor Awards Three Cottleville Firefighters received Medal of Valor Awards from the St. Louis Metro Area Fire Chiefs Association for their heroic actions involving the rescue of an individual trapped in a home fire last spring. The Firefighters, Joel Rydberg, Tom Smoot and Ryan Haake, responded to a report of a structure fire at the TK Mobile Home Park located in unincorporated St. Charles County on May 25, 2014. According to reports, as the fire crew arrived on scene, they were met by frantic neighbors who stated that a female was still in the home. The neighbors reported that they had tried to get her out but the smoke “was too intense.” The fire crew quickly organized for a rescue attempt and was immediately met by a locked front door. They forced their way through the door into the home where they encountered moderate to heavy smoke and fire conditions. As the crew made their search through the home, they once again found themselves facing another locked door and had to force the second door open. Once they got the door open, they called out to the victim while listening intently for a response. The crew was alerted from a faint noise from the victim allowing them to quickly locate her and then successfully rescue her from the home. The fire crew faced uncertainty as they encounter unpredictable fire and smoke
conditions while not knowing the condition of the structural integrity due to the nature of this fire. Acting Captain Rydberg along with Firefighters Haake and Smoot were said to have shown resourcefulness and courage by recognizing the immediate life threat to the victim and while disregarding their own safety, entered the home without the protection of a hose line and located and rescued the victim. “These three men are excellent examples of professionalism and dedication and it makes me proud to have members of my department recognized for their actions.” said Rob Wylie, fire chief of Cottleville Fire Protection District. According to Wylie, the victim reportedly has made a full recovery. Wylie said that the trio modestly insisted they were just “in the right place at the right time.” This is not the first time that the three Firefighters have been honored for their work. Earlier this year, each received “Firefighter of the Year Awards” by the St. Charles Elks Lodge # 690. The Cottleville Fire District protects 38 square miles of St. Charles County Missouri and provides service to all or portions of five different municipalities including the cities of Cottleville, Weldon Spring, Dardenne Prairie, St. Peters, and O’Fallon. Cottleville’s Firefighter/EMT’s and Firefighter/Paramedics respond to just
under 3,000 calls a year for assistance. They complete over 10,000 hours of training annually, and spend countless hours providing station tours and public education. Since 1958, St. Louis Metro Area Fire Chiefs Association has served as a group through which fire chiefs share best practices, fire education trends and certain committee work, such as handling of hazardous materials (HAZMAT). The association includes fire chiefs from St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson counties, as well as the city of St. Louis.
Crisis Nursery Recognized
Thanks for Giving
St. Vincent photos courtesy of Goldenlight Films
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