On Tuesday, Feb. 6, Whitesboro Fire Chief Steve Pinkston and Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Patterson presented several first responders with awards and accolades for going above and beyond the call of duty.
First, they presented Officer Lew Hatch with an Award of Exemplary Action, usually awarded to civilians, police officers and members of other fire departments that exhibit acts of unusual character that require initiative for special recognition.
Chief Pinkston explained on Dec. 30, 2023, the Whitesboro Fire Department (WFD), EMS and Police Department were dispatched to a reported fire alarm that went off at Whitesboro’s Brookhollow Apartments at 2:30 a.m.
Officer Lew Hatch was the officer on duty and arrived first to the scene.
Patterson said upon arrival, Hatch accessed the apartment and found the resident had fallen asleep while smoking a cigarette and caught his mattress on fire.
Hatch quickly put the flames out with water, which kept the fire in check until firefighters arrived to fully extinguish the fire.
“No doubt that he saved a person’s life and no doubt that he saved the property there from the fire growing and building,” Patterson said.
Next, Pinkston, Patterson and EMS Captain Stephen Wilcox recognized Whitesboro Fire/EMS department staff for a Life Saving Award due to a CPR save after a medical emergency.
Chief Patterson explained on Dec. 28, 2023 at 11:02 a.m., Medic 251 A shift, Rescue 235 and Gordonville First responder Josh Palmer responded to a medical emergency off of Howard Road in Sadler. The victim’s husband called saying his wife was having difficulty breathing.
Patterson said crews arrived to a bystander CPR taking place. The victim’s husband was performing CPR when crews quickly took over patient care and provided advanced life support.
Patterson said the ambulance arrived at 11:14 a.m. to the residence and they were able to regain a pulse by 11:20 a.m.
“To say this is a really big deal, it really is because it’s something you try for, you train for and it is something that just does not happen very often,” Patterson said.
An Award of Exemplary Action was given to Whitesboro dispatcher Curlen Barger while Phoenix Awards were presented to WFD Medic 251 Paramedic Taylor Jeffrey, EMT Wyatt Rupert, EMT Josh Velten (not present to receive award) and WFD Rescue 235 Paramedic Rusty Reedy.