Firefighters honored by VFW for daring rescue
Des Plaines Fire Lt. Michael Copeland and firefighter/paramedic Robert Prieto received the Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars Firefighter of the Year and Paramedic of the Year awards.
The awards were granted at the Illinois VFW Convention on June 16, in Springfield. The two Des Plaines firefighters were nominated by Park Ridge VFW Post 3579 after receiving regional recognition from that post in March.
They were acknowledged for their efforts during a structural fire last December on Fargo Avenue, when they fought their way through flames to get into a basement to rescue a child and his grandmother. Officials said the fire was caused when a gasoline can was kicked down the stairs and the spilled gasoline was ignited by the water heater.
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