2011 Ray Downey Courage & Valor Award Presented at FDIC

Indianapolis, IN, March 23, 2011—PennWell Corporation presented FDNY Firefighter First Grade Peter Demontreux with the 2011 Ray Downey Courage & Valor Award during this year’s Opening Ceremony of the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), held at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium March 21-26, 2011.

Addressing an audience of nearly 7,000 firefighters, PennWell Corporation’s President and CEO Robert F. Biolchini stated, “This morning, we gather to honor another true American hero, FDNY Firefighter First Grade Peter Demontreux. Last year, Peter’s extraordinary act of bravery under difficult conditions resulted in saving the lives of two men, whom without his intervention, would have succumbed to a tragic fate. Firefighter Demontreux’s actions reflect on the fire service’s true values. Today we recognize him individually, but also in a greater sense, honor his actions which exemplify the spirit and servitude of the fire service enacted each and every day.”

Firefighter Demontreux received the award in recognition of his extraordinary efforts displayed in the early morning hours of August 30, 2010.  Responding to a phone alarm reporting a structure fire in Brooklyn, Ladder 132 received several reports of multiple people trapped throughout the building. Ladder 132 personnel arrived as the first-due truck and were met with heavy fire at the front door in the hallway and up the stairway to the third floor, preventing their entry until a hoseline could be put in place.

As Ladder 132’s inside team waited on the front steps for a hoseline, other members of Ladder 132 were setting up the aerial for a rescue of a man who was at the front window of the third floor with heavy smoke pushing out all around him. Firefighter Demontreux climbed the aerial and pulled Mr. Howell from the window. Firefighter Demontreux was told by Mr. Howell that his friend was still inside the burning apartment.

With Ladder 132’s inside team still waiting for a hoseline and unable to enter the stairwell, Firefighter Demontreux entered the third-floor window via the aerial and began his search. Firefighter Demontreux was able to search the front room but was forced to retreat back to the window because of the high-heat condition and zero visibility.

When Firefighter Demontreux finally reached the rear, he discovered Mr. Mantony hanging out a rear window to escape the heat. Realizing that there were no fire escapes or portable ladders in the rear, Firefighter Demontreux, without regard for his own safety, determined that the only way out was the window through which he came in. Through the high heat and zero visibility, Firefighter Demontreux led Mr. Mantony back toward the front window. When they were halfway through the apartment, the entire third floor exploded into flames, engulfing both men and setting them ablaze.

Demonstrating incredible bravery and selflessness, Firefighter Demontreux, now himself on fire, made the conscious and calculated decision that he would not leave Mr. Mantony behind. Although he now found himself in a fully involved room and at extreme personal risk, he stayed with Mr. Mantony and continued to assist him to the window and the aerial device for an escape. When they reached the window, Firefighter Demontreux again displayed incredible selflessness and bravery by resisting the urge to save himself first. Ignoring his immediate personal danger, intense heat, and extreme personal risk, he pushed Mr. Mantony out of the window onto Ladder 132’s waiting aerial ladder before diving out of the window onto the ladder himself.

The Courage & Valor Foundation, created by PennWell Corporation to ensure that the world forever remembers the sacrifices made by heroic FDNY members on September 11, 2001, annually presents the Ray Downey Courage & Valor Award at FDIC.  FDIC, owned and produced by PennWell, is the world’s largest firefighter training event, bringing together nearly 30,000 fire service professionals each year. In the spirit of the heroism displayed on September 11, this award recognizes extraordinarily courageous acts of American firefighters each year.  The award is named in honor of Deputy Chief Ray Downey, head of FEMA, who helped Governor Frank Keating after the Murrah Building explosion in Oklahoma City in 1995.  He was chief of rescue operations and a 39-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York, who elected to remain in the World Trade Center to save others on September 11. He was the most highly decorated firefighter in the history of New York.

About PennWell Corporation
PennWell Corporation is a diversified business-to-business media and information company that provides quality content and integrated marketing solutions for the following industries: oil and gas, electric power, renewable energy, water, electronics, semiconductor, contamination control, optoelectronics, fiberoptics, enterprise storage, fire, emergency services and dental. Founded in 1910, PennWell publishes 75 print and online magazines and newsletters, conducts 60 conferences and exhibitions on six continents, and has an extensive offering of books, maps, web sites, research and database services. In addition to PennWell’s headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the company has major offices in Nashua, New Hampshire; Houston, Texas; London, England; Fairlawn, New Jersey; Moscow, Russia; and Hong Kong, China. For additional information about PennWell, visit www.pennwell.com.