Fire Personnel Honored at the SAR March Luncheon

From Left: Acting Lieutenant Ryan Jekonski, Captain  Doug Wolf and Larry Peck, Saramana Chapter, SAR and in the background, Chaplain Gene Bradley and Past President Harold Crapo, Jr.

SARASOTA -- On Friday, 11 March 2011, the fire departments of Sarasota, North Port, Longboat Key and Bradenton each sent fire personnel to receive the Saramana Chapter, SAR Fire Safety Commendation Award. The venue for the award presentations was the Lido Key Holiday Inn, Sarasota.
 
From Sarasota County Emergency Services:
On January 23, 2011 Station 1, 2, 4 and Squad 8 were dispatched for a reported structure fire at the Sarasota County Jail on Main Street.  Upon arrival it was learned a natural gas powered heating unit had malfunctioned and filled the first floor with smoke.  Acting Lieutenant Ryan Jekonski and Captain Doug Wolf were charged with the task of ventilating the first and second floor of the six story building that houses 900 prisoners.  To you, the reader of this narrative it becomes quite obvious security of the building is paramount.  So, Jekonski and Wolf were presented with these problems:  
1).     Ventilate the carbon monoxide from the County Jail
2).     Accomplish air monitoring in a 6-story building that houses dangerous criminals.
3).     Ventilate the affected floors (1 and 2) when only one door at any time can be opened.
4).     Interact and function with Sheriffs Office personnel during operations.
5).     Perform sheltering in place in the unaffected areas of the Jail and monitor the areas for IDLH conditions.
 

From Left: Bradenton Firefighter Matthew McCabe, Past President Harold Crapo, Jr. and Sgt at Arms, Chuck Barrett congratulating McCabe

Their awards were presented by Larry Peck, Chairman of the Fire and Safety Committee,  Peck can be recognized in the accompanying photograph wearing the Ancient Fletcher Clan  plaid kilt.  Peck was also the principal speaker, his subject' "History of the Scots-Irish" and their impact upon our colonial society.  While the citations of the remaining three award recipients did not have the high drama of the preceding two; they were, none the less, chosen by their peers to receive the honor this year.  And, they are from:
 
North Port Fire Rescue District:  Firefighter/Emergency Technician Richard Yarnell, who, in addition to his regular duties on the Light Technical Rescue Team is the Commander of a Color Guard which he was instrumental in forming.
 
Longboat Key Fire Rescue:  Firefighter-Paramedic Jay Gosnell.  On August 10, 2010 the department responded to a report of boaters in the water.  Upon F/P Gosnell donned his life jacket and was tethered with a life-line were he swam out 350-400 feet and was able to rescue three boaters from the Gulf.  All three were brought to shore without injury.   
 
Bradenton Fire Department:  Firefighter Matthew McCabe.  In his three years with the department, he has demonstrated the utmost concern for the safety of our citizens and the firefighters he works with, thereby supporting the department's mission and core values.