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News | Oct. 25, 2017

Installation firefighters honored for assistance to Harrisburg blaze

By DLA Distribution Public Affairs

 

Members of the DLA Installation Operations Susquehanna Fire and Emergency Services rescue company were awarded a distinguished unit citation for their actions during a home fire in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, during the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire's 2017 Awards Ceremony on Oct. 10.

According to Fire Chief Henry Hoffman Jr., on March 10, 2017, DLA Rescue 69 was dispatched to a structure fire with entrapment.  

They arrived at the scene alongside crews from the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire and were put to work immediately, throwing ladders and assisting with rescues and fire attack.  

Firefighter Brandon Leidy assisted with throwing ladders and taking a hand line into the building while Firefighter Andrew Wallace gathered multiple pieces of equipment to complete rescues and fire attack.  Firefighters Kelly Lemmons and Richard Jacoby made access to the second floor roof, enabling Lemmons to climb up one floor to where a child was laying.  

A Harrisburg City firefighter handed the small child to Lemmons to bring down to EMS.  Once the victim was removed, Lemmons and Jacoby assisted with fire attack on the second level and attempted to access the third level of the home, which proved impossible due to a burnt out stairwell.  

Once the bulk of the fire was eliminated, crews reassembled and assisted with hose line management, extinguishing spot fires and regaining the position of the Rapid Intervention Team.  

Despite the heroic efforts of all on scene that day, three children had to be transported to area burn centers and one child passed away 24 hours later.  Additionally, City of Harrisburg Lt. Dennis DeVoe was enroute to his firehouse to collect his gear and report to the scene when he was tragically struck and killed by a drunk driver. 

DeVoe’s number was retired during the ceremony, which also honored the heroism of many area firefighters.