Fairfax, VA – Firefighter/paramedic Jasen Brown of the City of Alhambra, CA Fire Department has been selected as this year’s winner of the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor.
This award, co-sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Motorola, Inc., will be presented at Fire-Rescue International, to be held August 22-25, 2003, at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, TX.
Brown was selected for an act of bravery and heroism at the scene of a major traffic collision in the city of Ventura, Calif. On Feb. 4, 2003, Brown, who was off duty at the time, came upon the scene of a two-vehicle collision and observed a woman who appeared to be in critical condition. Upon further assessment of the situation, Brown observed a 6-month-old infant and a 2-year-old toddler, both in full arrest, in the back seat of the vehicle.
Brown quickly removed the infant from the car and immediately began performing CPR. When he realized that the car was on fire, he freed the 2-year-old, handed the toddler to an off-duty police officer and instructed him to start CPR. After both children were freed, Brown struggled to free the woman in the front of the car. Despite the intensifying fire, Brown, with assistance from civilian bystanders, pulled the trapped woman from the car. Once she was extricated, Brown performed patient assessments on the two injured patients from the second car and provided patient care to all injured individuals until Ventura City Fire arrived.
Because of Brown’s quick action and skill levels, he is responsible for saving the life of the woman trapped in the burning car. Unfortunately, both children died from their injuries. However, the three adults survived the collision because of the life-saving actions and medical treatment initially provided by Brown.
For his valiant and selfless act above and beyond the call of duty, firefighter/paramedic Jasen Brown has been awarded the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. On behalf of the entire Alhambra Fire Department, Chief Vincent L. Kemp will accept the International Benjamin Franklin Departmental Leadership Award in recognition of the department’s professionalism, service to the public and contribution to the fire service.
This year marks the 34th anniversary of the valor award, which is customarily presented to an individual fire fighter for life-saving efforts above and beyond the call of duty. The award is named for Benjamin Franklin, who was one of the first fire chiefs in the United States.
