Radcliffeborough Neighborhood Association

Local Firefighter Awarded Medal of Valor

Radcliffeborough Firefighters Respond to Multi-Family House Fire

Edward Henry of Ladder 4 B shift had 10 months on the job and was considered a probationary firefighter at the time he rescued a man trapped by fire and smoke. April 24, 2005 at 2:36 am, Engines 2 and 3 as well as Ladder 4 responded to a 911 call for a house fire at #1 Bennett Street. When the firefighters arrived, they saw heavy smoke and fire venting from the rear of the three story multi-family house. Engine 3 began the effort to suppress the fire while Engine 2 sought the closest water source. Occupants who had already made it out of the burning building told firefighters that there were still people inside. Ladderman Henry headed to the front door with a pick head axe and a sledge hammer after sighting a person standing at a third story window. Upon entering the building, he encountered heavy smoke and found heavy fire venting into the stairway as he made his way to the second floor.

Ladderman Henry Rescues Victim from Third Floor

Henry made the decision to continue to the third floor in zero visibility and extreme heat even without the protection of the hose team who had not had time to set up in the short period of time. When he gained the third floor, he called to the victim and moved toward the answering voice. He found a conscious but disoriented victim lying on the floor. Ladderman Henry verified the presence of the victim by radio. He recognized the danger of returning to the stairway now in flames behind him, and requested a ladder to be set on the front third floor window. He broke the window and helped the victim to it. Henry placed the man at waist level out the window but realized the man was still breathing in too much smoke and thus in imminent danger. Without concern for himself or his own safety, Ladderman Henry removed his own oxygen mask and placed it on the victim. He then used his flash hood and a gloved hand to assist in filtering the smoke.

The firefighters of Battalion 3 watched from below but could not see either Ladderman Henry or the victim at times because of the density of the smoke. The men of Ladder 4 and Engine 6 placed a ladder for the rescue and Ladderman Henry passed the victim off to an Engine 6 firefighter who helped the man down. Ladderman Henry then replaced his mask, checked his available air and began to search for other victims. Because of the extreme heat and the engine companies’ suppression of the fire below him, he was forced to bail out of the third floor by ladder. He then exchanged his air tank and helped to take a charged water line back up the ladder he had just used to exit the fire. After exchanging his air tank yet again, he helped to drag another line to the rear of the house. Ladderman Henry then began to cough and vomit uncontrollably. With the help of firemen from Engine 8 and Battalion 3, he was taken to an ambulance and transported to the hospital. Due to the extreme amounts of smoke inhaled, he was kept at the hospital for many hours on high levels of oxygen, just barely escaping placement in a hyperbaric chamber.

Actions Warrant Receipt of Medal

To speak to the severity of this particular fire, in the letter of nomination to the committee for the Medal of Valor, it was explained that in the City of Charleston, “a working house fire receives 3 engines, 1 ladder, 1 assistant Chief and 1 Battalion Chief and each engine and ladder company has a crew of 4 personnel each. This fire had a total of 4 on duty Chiefs (1, 2, 3, 4), 7 engines (2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 15, 16) and 2 ladders (4, 5), an air unit and a number of off duty personnel who responded as well.”

Given that Ladderman Ed Henry acted with a calmness and maturity beyond that of a probationary firefighter, that he “exhibited a tremendous amount of courage and bravery”*, and he showed through his actions his concern for his fellow human beings, he was awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for 2004-2005. The Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the President of the United States George W. Bush presented the medal to him in the oval office of the White House on March 24, 2006.

*Taken directly from the letter of nomination to the committee for the Medal of Valor by the City of Charleston Fire Department and I.A.F.F. Local 61.

For more information and photos, click the websites below.

Office of Justice Programs
IAFF Syndicated News
The White House
Charleston Firefighters Associaton Local 61