2-27-20 fdl fire and rescue awards

Each year, Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue awards members of the agency for their exceptional effort, commitment, and outstanding service to the department and community. This year FDL Fire/Rescue presented Officer of the Year, Paramedic of the Year, Unit Citation/Commendation Awards, Awards of Merit, Excellence Awards, Esprit de Corps Award, Fire Chief’s Special Commendation Award, and Stork Award.   FDL Fire /Rescue appreciates these members’ bravery and courage, exceptional service, and achievement to the agency.
Officer of the Year:  This award is given to a single recipient who has best exemplified the standards of excellence and service to the community and the Fire Department. This individual must exhibit an extraordinary commitment to leading the Fire Department and has earned the trust and respect of their subordinates and peers.   Division Chief of Fire Prevention Troy Haase was presented the 2019 “Officer of the Year” award.
 Paramedics of the Year:  This award is given to a single recipient who has best exemplified the standards of excellence and service to the community and the Fire Department. This individual is a team player who supports efforts to achieve goals, embraces the policies and procedures and encourages improvements to the agency and our service. Firefighter/Paramedics Nathan Philipsky and Jacob Fisher were chosen for the 2019 “Paramedic of the Year” award.
The Unit Citation/Commendation:  This award was presented to a group of FDL Fire/Rescue members who made up a company, which performed in an outstanding manner for service to the community. 

1. On September 19,2019, Fond du Lac Fire Rescue received a request for our Hazardous Materials Response Team for a possible Chlorine gas leak at Saputo Cheese Plant in Alto WI.  Although Hazardous Materials calls are not a frequent incident, this day created a larger struggle for members of Fond du Lac Fire Rescue, as most all members were engaged in a firefight of a triple fatality house fire on Military road.  This team of seven individuals mitigated a complex hazardous materials incident without any injuries or major risk to the responders, plant staff or citizens of Alto.

For these reasons, the following are awarded a 2019 Unit Citation.   Captain Joe Maramonte, Lieutenant Rick Faris, Engineers Rick Gerritson and Chris Behnke, Firefighter/Paramedics Laura Ketelhut,  Jed Rathke, and Taylor Huenink. 

2. During the early hours of June 6,2019, during the Walleye Weekend festival, a 40-year-old man approached the Firefighters tent stating that he was sweaty and having chest discomfort. After the primary assessment that included vitals and four-lead monitor was complete, the medics quickly realized that this was much more than simple heat exhaustion. Soon after the fire rescue company from station 2 arrived and the patient was loaded into M482, the patient started to seize and eventually went pulseless non-breathing (PNB).  The quick actions of the crew, which included IV access, rapid sequence intubation, administration medications and defibrillation shock, converted the dying patient into a stable rhythm with a pulse.

Because of the crews lead edge of knowledge and skills, in order to recognize a patient in dire need for advanced medical expertise, this patient was given the best possible outcome for survival.  For these reasons of dedication and commitment to the profession, the following members are awarded a 2019 Unit Citation.  Lieutenant Curt Smits, Engineer Dwight Fisher, Firefighter/Paramedics Brian Westby, Connor Knaus, Sean White, Jed Rathke, and Noah Kreilkamp. 

3. On April 9, 2019, Fond du Lac Fire Rescue received a request for assistance from Van Dyne Fire Department and North Fond du Lac Paramedic Service for a rescue of a small kayak that is in the middle of Lake Winnebago and was unable to get themselves to shore.  The victim was exhausted and unable to help himself due to the exposure to the cold water and weather.  Once the victim was secured in the rescue craft the emergency was not done, as the difficult weather and lake conditions made it a challenge to get back to land safely.   Because of the bravery of the crew and the knowledge of operating a boat in bleak weather conditions, all involved were able to make it back to land safety and the victim was treated and transported to the hospital for weather exposure. For these reasons, the following are awarded a 2019 Unit Citation.  Lieutenant Andy Aird and Engineer Mitch Petersen

4. On the early hours of March 14, 2019, crews were dispatched to a residence on South Street for dryer “buzzing” in a basement that was filling up with water.  Little did anyone realize that this was just the beginning of what turned out to be one of the largest water rescue responses that Fond du Lac Fire has ever experienced?  The events leading to this flood in the City of Fond du Lac could be considered the “perfect storm”.  Unseasonably warm weather, with a large amount of melting ice and snow led to huge volumes of water draining into the Fond du Lac River system, along with an unexpected rainstorm, which created ice jams and large localized areas of flooding within the City.  Within the 36 hour span of the event there were over 125 calls for rescue, 53 FDLFR members involved, 91 MABAS members utilized, and hundreds of hours of working crews over the two-day event.  The magnitude of the event is difficult to describe. The FDLFR members involved shown perseverance, dedication, professionalism and resolve.  For these reasons, the following members are awarded a 2019 Unit Citation.

Andrew Behnke, Max Blitzke, Todd Janquart, Zach Mueller, Nate Philipsky, Bobby Scott, Matt Simon, Adam Stephens, Nick Fahrenkrug, Jake Fisher, Joe Goldapske, Andy Golla, John Hicken, Connor Knaus, Noah Kreilkamp, Jim Wamser, Nick Czaja, Kevin Doll, Rick Faris, Jerry Golla, Jon Hartzheim, Jim Hoepfner, Adam King, Matt Kissinger, Shawn Kneeland, Ben Kooiman, Brian Munson, Edgar Ramirez, Jed Rathke, Jason Roberts, Garth Schumacher, Phil Seibel, Mike Spencer, Sam Tennessen, Jake Vogds,Keith Wendt, Brian Winter, Andy Aird, Chris Behnke, Erick Gerritson, Taylor Huenink, Joe Maramonte, Brian Westby, Troy Haase, Chief O’Leary, Curt Smits, Sean White, Rick Gerritson, Jim Knowles, Dwight Fisher,Ben Stephany, Lori Muentner, Deb Pinnow.
Fire Chief’s Special Commendation Award – The Fire Chief’s Special Commendation Award is given to any Fond du Lac Fire Rescue members whose actions exemplify the highest standards of professionalism, teamwork and dedication to Fond du Lac Fire Rescue.  On March 14, 2019, Fond du Lac Fire Rescue responded to a large-scale flooding event that required coordination and deployment of multiple resources that included internal city and country resources along with an extensive MABAS deployment. Assistant Fire Chiefs James Knowles, Erick Gerritson and Todd Janquart’s actions during the event provided a level or professionalism worthy of this special recognition.  For these reasons, the Chief’s Award is awarded to Assistant Chiefs Knowles, Gerritson and Janquart.
Stork Award– The Stork Award may be presented to any member(s) for a field delivery of a baby on an EMS incident. All of the personnel that are directly involved with delivery of the baby (delivery, suctioning, warming, and stimulating) are eligible to receive the award.  On October 22, 2019, the crew at Station 2, first shift was called to a residence for a pregnant female that felt as though her baby was going to be delivered at her home.  Shortly after the crew arrived, the assessment from the paramedics confirmed the mother’s suspicions and the birth of her baby was imminent.  The crew quickly prepared the scene for delivery and because of the skills, care and compassion, they delivered a healthy baby into the world.  Due to the crew’s quick decision-making, knowledge and empathy, the following members are being awarded the 2019 Stork Award.
Lieutenant Jon Hartzheim, Engineer Kevin Doll, Firefighter/Paramedics Eric Rebedew, Nick Fahrenkrug, and Ben Kooiman
Firefighter/Paramedic Carl Bahr and Captain Joe Maramonte received the Excellence Award
Captain Garth Schumacher received the Award of Merit
Esprit de Corps: Lt. Jason Roberts-plays bagpipes at veterans/memorial services, Honor Guard, Youth Fire intervention