Firefighters Keith A. Grant and David E. Johnston of the City of Watertown (NY) Fire Rescue Department have been selected as this year’s winners of the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor, cosponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and Motorola, Inc. The award will be presented at the 135th annual Fire-Rescue International (FRI), August 14-16, in Denver, Colorado.
Now in its 39th year, the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the IAFC. It recognizes firefighters around the world for their expert training, leadership, heroic actions and safe practices.
Early in the morning of December 8, 2007, the City of Watertown Fire Rescue Department responded to a downtown structure fire. Significant flames and heavy black smoke were boiling up from the third floor of a four-story building, home to nearly 40 residents in 30 apartments. The fire alarm system was not operating and no one knew how many people had evacuated. Adding to the hazardous conditions and frigid temperatures, flames erupting from the front of the building threatened high-tension power lines. If they fell, they would land right on top of the firefighters.
At the rear of the building, Firefighters Keith Grant and David Johnston determined conditions were deteriorating so rapidly, they couldn’t wait for another engine to arrive. They climbed the rickety, wooden fire escape and found a victim, disoriented and suffering smoke inhalation, on the third-floor landing. They led him quickly down the stairs and turned him over to rescue personnel below.
Battling heavy smoke and flames, Grant and Johnston raced back up to the apartment to ensure no other victims were trapped inside. Crawling on his stomach through the doorway, Firefighter Johnston observed conditions were ripe for flashover and retreated. Within seconds, the apartment ignited into a raging inferno. As both firefighters pounded on the door of the neighboring apartment, they heard a victim barricaded inside; fire not only blocked his front door, but the rear door wouldn’t open. At the same time, command was ordering the firefighters off the fire escape as flames threatened to completely block their exit.
Without hesitation, Firefighter Johnston kicked open the door and rescued the victim inside. The fire was so intense, both firefighters literally laid on top of him to shield him from the radiant heat while they pulled him down to safety. Miraculously, he only suffered scrapes, burns and smoke inhalation.
Both firefighters not only displayed quick thinking and unstoppable determination, but also risked their own lives to save others. In nominating Firefighters Grant and Johnston for the award, Chief Daniel J. Gaumont said, “Clearly, if not for the heroic efforts of these two courageous and valiant firefighters, both of these innocent victims would have succumbed.”
This is the second time that City of Watertown Fire Rescue Department has been honored with the Award for Valor. The first time was in 2000, also under Chief Gaumont’s leadership. The chief will also be honored once again with the Department Leadership Award at the presentation ceremony at FRI’s general session on Friday morning.
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