Firefighters are in more neighborhoods all across our city than any other city employee.
Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, back center right, observes Battalion Chiefs Lesley Morgan, left, Jeff Eldridge and Don Bowman as they receive the Meritorious Service Award Monday night at the Bessie Smith Hall.
Chattanooga Fire Department Awards
Unit commendations› Quint 16, Quint 10, Squad 1 and Squad 19 green shift recognized for the actions during a vehicle extrication on Amnicola Highway on June 30, 2015.› Engine 5, Ladder 5 blue shift recognized for actions during a response to a fire on Kirby Avenue on July 15, 2015.› Quint 10 red shift recognized for actions during a response to a hazardous materials incident on Riverport Road on June 17, 2015.› Quint 8 red shift recognized for actions during a fire on Airpark Drive on July 23, 2015.› Engine 4 red shift recognized for actions during a fire on Camden Oaks Drive on April 6, 2015.› Chattanooga Fire Department Honor Guard recognized for ongoing service, on and off-duty.
Awards for response to July 16, 2015, shooting
› Meritorious Service Award: Battalion chiefs Don Bowman, Jeff Eldridge and Lesley Morgan› Unit Commendation: Assistant Chief Danny Hague and Capt. David Tallent› Unit Commendation: Quint 10 green shift Capt. William Dautrich, senior firefighter Dale Aslinger and firefighter engineer Mark Jenkins and Quint 6 green shift Capt. Teri Rose, Lt. Brad Freeman, senior firefighter Rusty Mobley and firefighter Robert Davis
More awards
› Civilian Service Award: DeWayne Johnson, fleet maintenance› Military Service Award: Senior Firefighter Jack ThompsonLife Safety Award› Lt. Vernon Lane for response to a fire on East Brainerd Road on Aug. 14, 2015› Capt. Joey Smith and firefighter Tyler Toon for response to fire on North Highland Park Avenue on Nov. 14, 2015Firefighters of the Year› Capt. Joey Smith and firefighter Tyler Toon for their actions during a fire on North Highland Park Avenue on Nov. 14, 2015Inaugural Hall of Fame inductees› John Gross, retired firefighter› Harry Jett, retired fire chief› Jim Coppinger, retired fire chief› Joe Knowles, retired fire chief
During a ceremony at a packed Bessie Smith Cultural Center, the Chattanooga Fire Department Awards Program last week honored firefighters who braved gunfire and blazing summer heat to render aid during the July 16 shootings, who caught a baby dropped from the third-story window of a flaming apartment, who entered a smoking structure before water was even sprayed into the fire to find a victim unconscious on the floor, and incidents where hazardous materials threatened and car crash victims had to be quickly extricated.
“Firefighters are in more neighborhoods all across our city than any other city employee,” Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke told the large crowd of firefighters and their families and friends.
“[W]e have to acknowledge the heroic deeds and incredible actions that are taken not just on special occasions but every day and night,” Berke said, also thanking firefighters’ families for their support and sacrifice as their loved ones pursue a career of public service.
The top honor, Firefighter of the Year, went to two men, Capt. Joey Smith and firefighter Tyler Toon, who together saved a man’s life in a house fire at North Highland Park Avenue on Nov. 14, 2015. Smith and Toon also received a Life Safety Award for their response in the same incident.
Also receiving a Life Safety Award was Lt. Vernon Lane, who on Aug. 14, 2015, was off duty when he stood beneath the third floor window of a burning unit at Hidden Creek Apartments on East Brainerd Road to catch a 10-month-old boy who was dropped to safety by his mother.
Special awards this year were given specific to the response during the July 16, 2015, shootings, recognizing several chiefs and firefighters and a civilian member of fleet maintenance for their service that day.
The awards program also launched the inaugural Hall of Fame induction of three previous Chattanooga fire chiefs and a firefighter – retired firefighter John Gross and retired chiefs Harry Jett, Jim Coppinger and Joe Knowles were named the first four inductees.
County Mayor and Hall of Fame inductee Coppinger noted that firefighters are the first face of first responders and remarked that he keeps close to his heart the people who sleep lightly, waiting for the alarm to sound.
“I still say a little prayer for firefighters every night,” he said.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 757-6569.