Meet America’s top 31 Firefighting Heroes.
Nominated for going above and beyond the call of
duty, these firefighters have helped save lives and
guarantee the safety of our neighborhoods.
Engineer Operator, Houston Fire Department -
Houston, TX
While returning home in March 2007, Engineer
Operator Allen Allnut pulled over to help area
firefighters with a marina fire. From the marina
water, Allnut pulled a burned man as well as a
fellow firefighter, who burned over 85% of his body,
saving his life.
Battalion Chief, Colorado Springs Fire Department
- Colorado Springs, CO
District Chief Rich Brown is a member of the
Colorado Springs Fire Department. In 2007, Chief
Brown led more than 100 firefighters during a
dangerous apartment building fire and managed
the rescue of more than 85 occupants.
Lieutenant, Fall River Fire Department - Fall
River, MA
Lt. Mike Cabral has been a member of the Fall River
Fire Department for six years. Cabral is honored for
his courageous acts during a 2007 fire where he
entered a structure fire without the protection of
an attack line and rescued two children.
Lieutenant, Worcester Fire Department -
Worcester, MA
Lt. Mark Chestna of the Worcester Fire Department
is recognized for his heroic efforts in the line of duty
to save a fellow firefighter. As a result of his heroic
efforts, Lt. Chestna suffered 1st and 2nd degree
burns.
Lieutenant, West Islip Fire Department - West
Islip, NY
A veteran of the West Islip Fire Department,
Lieutenant Allen Cinotti is being recognized for his
heroic and selfless efforts, without the aid of any of
his protective equipment, to save an elderly man
from his burning home.
Lieutenant FDNY Battalion 19 - Smithtown, NY
Lt. James Congema is a member of the Fire
Department of New York, Battalion 19. Congema is
recognized for his courage, skill and commitment
during a 2007 fire rescue where he saved five
victims from a house fire.
Firefighter/Paramedic, Lake Mary Fire
Department - Lake Mary, FL
Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Cooper is a seven-year
veteran of the Lake Mary Fire Department. After an
airplane crashed into two of his neighbors' homes,
Cooper rushed without hesitation to save one of
his neighbors and administered aid to another.
Master Firefighter, Montgomery County Fire and
Rescue Service - Montgomery County, MD
Volunteer Master Firefighter Steven Cox is a
member of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue
Service. In February 2007, Cox’s heroic efforts
helped save five children from a terrible house fire.
Cox was directly responsible for rescuing three of
the five children.
Firefighter, FDNY Ladder 102 - Staten Island, NY
Firefighter Frank DiLeo is a member of the Fire
Department of New York, Ladder 102. DiLeo is
honored for his bravery during a 2007 house fire
where DiLeo crawled through heat and zero
visibility to save four victims, three of which
were young children.
Captain, Rescue 28 - Miami, FL
In April 2007, Captain Abel Fernandez, a valued
member of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department,
was one of the first responders to a multi-vehicle
accident. Given the terrible situation, Fernandez
used his decision-making ability to rapidly prioritize
and achieve the best possible outcome.
Firefighter, FDNY Ladder 42 - Mohegan Lake, NY
Firefighter Donal Finnegan is a member of the Fire
Department of New York, Ladder 42. Finnegan is
recognized for saving a five-year-old girl during a
severe house fire under adverse conditions in 2007.
Chief, Mount Laurel Fire Department - Mount
Laurel, NJ
Chief Robert Gallos, a veteran of the Mount Laurel
Fire Department, is being recognized for a selfless
act of true heroism. While off-duty, Gallos
encountered a burning car on the side of the road
and rescued the driver who was trapped inside.
Captain, Fulton County Fire Department -
Atlanta, GA
A 19-year veteran of the Fulton County Fire
Department in Atlanta, Georgia, Captain Wayne
Gilliard is being recognized for his heroic and
unselfish acts in an attempt to save a fellow
Firefighter and another person in 2007.
Lieutenant, Philadelphia Fire Department -
Philadelphia, PA
Lt. Charles Grover is an 18-year veteran of the
Philadelphia Fire Department. Grover is being
recognized for climbing an unstable ladder to save
four children and their mother who were trapped in
a two-alarm blaze inside their 4th floor apartment.
Lieutenant, Nassau County Fire Rescue -
Callahan, FL
Lt. Glenn Harper has been a career firefighter with
the Nassau County Fire Rescue since 1999. Harper
is recognized for his heroic efforts during a 2007 fire
rescue when he saved a fellow firefighter who was
trapped under a collapsed building.
Fire Engineer, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
- San Diego, CA
San Diego Fire and Rescue Department
Firefighter/Paramedic Daniel King is being
recognized for his heroic efforts while off-duty to
save the life of an infirmed elderly man during a
Mira Mesa neighborhood fire.
Lieutenant, FDNY Ladder 154 - Bellport, NY
Lt. Michael Laurinaitis is a member of the Fire
Department of New York, Ladder 49. Laurinaitis is
nominated because of his aggressive actions in
2007 to save two victims from a house fire under
punishing conditions.
Firefighter, FDNY Ladder 33 - Copiague, NY
Firefighter Gregory Leinz is a member of the Fire
Department of New York, Ladder 33. Leinz is
nominated because of his dedication to duty by
removing an infant and mother from a window of
a burning three-story house.
Chief, Franklin Square and Munson Fire
Department - Franklin Square, NY
While off-duty in 2007, Anthony LoCicero and his
wife Randi rescued a 68-year-old woman whose
car was stuck on train tracks from an oncoming
express train. The car was totaled moments after
the woman was pulled to safety.
Firefighter, Franklin Square & Munson Fire
Dept. - Franklin Square, NY
While off duty in 2007, Randi LoCicero and her
husband Anthony rescued a 68-year-old woman
whose car was stuck on train tracks from an
oncoming express train. The car was totaled
moments after the woman was pulled to safety.
Firefighter, Spotsylvania Fire, Rescue &
Emergency Management - Spotsylvania, VA
In 2007, after completing his shift,
Firefighter/Medic Christopher Lonzo rescued two
people from a motor vehicle crash, moments
before it was consumed by flames. Lonzo
provided advanced life support that saved the
lives of both passengers.
Firefighter, FDNY Ladder 55 - Amityville, NY
Firefighter Darren McVeety is a member of the Fire
Department of New York, Ladder 40. McVeety is
honored because of his courageous actions
during a 2007 fire rescue where he saved the life
of a six-year-old child from a burning house.
Inspector Specialist, Portland Fire and Rescue -
Damascus, OR
Donald Porth began his career in 1984 as a
Portland firefighter and joined the Prevention
Division in 1990, where he has developed the
Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum. Porth
has also written "Images of America: Portland Fire
and Rescue."
Fire Chief, Pleasant View Volunteer Fire
Department - Pleasant View, TN
Fire Chief Shane Ray has participated in the fire
service from many sides. Currently serving as
Chief of the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire
Department, Ray also served his community as
the elected mayor while working as a career
firefighter. Ray was named the 2005 Volunteer fire
Chief of the Year.
Forest Health & Safety Officer, Tahoe National
Forest - Calpine, CA
Serving her 24th year at the Tahoe National
Forest, Michelle Reugebrink is dedicated to Forest
Service and is an effective first responder.
Recently, she created a national wildland fire
safety video for fire stations nationwide.
Captain, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue
Service - Montgomery County, MD
A member of the Montgomery County Fire and
Rescue Service, Captain William Richards’
outstanding instructional efforts during a 911 call
in February 2007 was a critical communication link
during a house fire, allowing colleague Steven
Cox to help rescue five children.
Fire Chief, District of Columbia Fire and
Emergency Medical Services Department -
Washington, D.C.
Chief Dennis Rubin assumed the role of Command
of the District of Columbia Fire and Medical Service
in March 2007. Rubin has helped launch the city's
Smoke Alarm Verification and Utilization program,
which has helped reduce the number of fatalities
in the city by more than 80%.
Captain North Plainfield Fire and Rescue
Department - North Plainfield, NJ
Captain Allen Smith is a 21-year veteran of North
Plainfield Fire & Rescue and is being recognized
for putting himself before others. While off-duty
and without any of his protective gear, Smith
single-handedly saved an elderly couple from a
fire.
Firefighter, Anne Arundel County Fire
Department - Hampstead, MD
Mark Smith is a 27-year veteran of the Anne
Arundel County Fire Department. Smith is being
recognized for his work as a Public Fire Safety
Education Specialist where he has influenced
thousands of school children, adults and seniors
in the community.
Captain, San Jose Fire Department -
San Jose, CA
Captain Doug Stewart is a 45-year veteran of the
San Jose Fire Department. At 67-years-old,
Stewart is the oldest San Jose firefighter. He
works at Station No. 1, downtown on Market
Street, one of the busiest departments in the city,
serving one million residents.
Captain, Raleigh Fire Department - Raleigh, NC
Captain Keith Wilder has been with the Raleigh
Fire Department for more than 21 years. Wilder
has gone above and beyond the call of duty by
serving on several important committees, all while
working to obtain his Associates degree in his
spare time.