The bravery of 11 London firefighters who jumped into action during two separate city disasters just over a year apart is being recognized by the province.
Captains Randy Evans, Dave Smith, and Ron Vermeltfoort, Acting Captain Andrew Cadieux, Senior Qualified Firefighter Simon Mackintosh, Firefighter Apparatus Operator Matt Davis, and Firefighters Alex Clements, Ryan Kruk, Thomas Wenhardt, James Ferraro, and Stephen Hilton were among 13 people to be presented with the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery Thursday.
The medals have been presented annually since 1976 to firefighters who have demonstrated great courage in risking their lives to save the lives of others. Ontario Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell hosted Thursday's medal ceremony at Queen's Park.
"In accepting these medals, I hope that these brave men and women will re-commit themselves to serving the public with integrity, knowing that their accomplishments will help motivate a new generation of Ontarians to join their ranks – looking to follow their example," said Dowdeswell.
Evans, Smith, Mackintosh, Davis, Clements, Kruk, and Wenhardt were given the medal for their life-saving actions during the August 2019 explosion at 450 Woodman Avenue in London's Old East Village.
The seven firefighters from Fire Station No. 2 on Florence Street rushed to Woodman Avenue where a car had crashed into a home, severing a gas line. The team was working to secure the scene and evacuate the area when the house blew up, sending debris flying over several blocks.
Wenhardt was trapped under the wreckage. Evans, Mackintosh, Davis, Clements, and Kruk, worked tirelessly to free him amid the chaos. Meanwhile, Smith, who suffered a head injury in the blast, coordinated efforts with the crew on scene to extinguish the fire.
Vermeltfoort, Cadieux, Ferraro, and Hilton received their medals for being the first responders on scene to implement life-saving actions at the partial building collapse at 555 Teeple Terrace on December 11, 2020.
The four firefighters from the London Fire Department's Engine 3 arrived at the building within three minutes of the call for help coming in. They found people trapped in a pit of wet concrete, hardened cement, and twisted metal. Despite the threat of further collapse, the firefighters performed an aggressive rescue to free all four survivors. Two construction workers were killed in the collapse.
“Every day we have the privilege of working with dedicated and professional staff in the delivery of fire services to the residents of London. From time to time, extraordinary incidents arise that require extraordinary efforts in the face of adversity to ensure the safety of those in need," Acting Fire Chief Richard Hayes said in a statement following the medal ceremony. "It was an honour to witness the awarding of the Firefighter Medal of Bravery... to eleven of our brave firefighters."
Mayor Josh Morgan also issued his deepest thanks to the firefighters honoured Thursday.
"It is most fitting these firefighters are recognized today for their brave and selfless action, and is also a poignant reminder of how fortunate we are as Londoners to have such dedicated and brave members working to keep us safe – each and every day," said Morgan. "We must also acknowledge and recognize the families of all London firefighters for sharing these heroes with our community on a daily basis.”
Last month, the province awarded five paramedics with the Middlesex-London Paramedic Service a similar medal for their actions during the same two London tragedies.
