1999 Rescue Award

It was Saturday morning at 5:30 AM when the Fuller Road FD was dispatched to a structure fire. Assistant Chiefs Michael Romano and Kevin Terry reached the scene before the arrival of apparatus. Residents said that there where two family members trapped upstairs. Romano and Terry entered the house, moved down the hall, and located the stairs in the back of the house. They encountered heavy black smoke down to floor level and moderate heat. They began a search of the second floor. Romano entered into the first room and Terry went on into the next room. After a short period of time Terry located the first victim and he called out to Romano to assist him in removing the victim.

As they began removing the victim from the second floor they met the first arriving engine crew, who were advancing a handline into the building. Romano advised them to continue on with the search. Romano and Terry removed the victim from the building and handed him over to EMS. They then re-entered the building to help search for the second victim. Romano soon found her. They removed her to the outside of the building, where EMS was waiting. Both victims where unconscious upon being located. The first victim died shortly after arriving at the hospital, and the second victim lived for a short time at the hospital before later dying of her injuries.