Four D.C.-area firefighters injured in the line of duty April of last year, were recognized for their heroic efforts on the job. On Thursday, April 26, on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building, Lieutenant Robert Alverado along with firefighters Warren Deavers, Ramon Hounshell and Charles A. Ryan III were honored as PBI Golden Knights.
Shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Friday, April 8th, Units from the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department were dispatched to a reported house fire in the 800 block 48th Pl NE. Within minutes, firefighters arrived on the scene at 813 48th Place, Northeast and encountered fire showing from a one-story, wood-frame, single-family house.
The building was evacuated and defensive fire attack was initiated. Once all firefighters were accounted for, an offensive fire attack was implemented and the fire was ‘knocked down’ within 10-15 minutes. However, during the knockdown, the four firefighters sustained burns and injuries of varying degrees. The house suffered significant damage and was declared a total loss.
The PBI Golden Knights salutes firefighters who, when the alarm sounds, respond. They like to say it’s just a ‘job,’ but we know it’s more. It’s a calling that puts them in harm’s way. The most important challenge isn’t publicity or fame. It’s survival–to serve others and do the ‘job’ right, while they put it all on the line.
In photo above: Alan Myers, Regional Sales Manager, Globe Manufacturing LLC Kevin Fortier, National Sales Manager, Globe Manufacturing LLC Edward Smith, Local President, IAFF Steve Mills, DC Burn Foundation Robert Alvarado, Lt Bill Lawson, COO, PBI Performance Products Michael Deavers, FF Ramon Hounshell, FF Charles “Chuck” Ryan, FF Bryan Bolden, Marketing, PBI Performance Products Kimberly Henry, VP, PBI Performance Products, Congressman Mick Mulvaney, SC, 5th
“This is a testament to how firefighters are trained and why PBI Matrix was designed–to guard against the unexpected. Lets hope that most firefighters never have an experience such as this,” said Grant Reeves, President of PBI Performance Products.
Dignitaries at the ceremony also included Congressman Mick Mulvaney (SC-5), Bill Lawson, COO, PBI Performance Products, Kevin Fortier, Sales Manager, Globe Fire Suits, Alan Myers, Regional Manager, Globe Fire Suits, Steve Mills, Representative, DC Burn Foundation and Ed Smith, Local President, IAFF.
PBI Performance Products is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and operates a dedicated manufacturing facility located in Rock Hill, South Carolina and global sales offices in England, Germany, Spain and Hong Kong.
Reeves further explained that, “Through people, products and perseverance, PBI’s goal is to provide insight into the most demanding applications. Our engineering, sales and technical support together with a family of polymers and fibers offer the very best solutions to a variety of high-tech applications.”
PBI Performance Products, Inc. is a wholly owned business of The InterTech Group, Inc.®, located in North Charleston, South Carolina. The InterTech Group operates a diverse, global group of companies specializing in custom engineered solutions. InterTech products can be found in a wide variety of industries and applications, including aerospace, power generation, medical, hygiene, sporting goods, home furnishings and construction materials, among many others.
