Evansville firefighters recognized for heroic actions

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - Evansville firefighters were honored for their service on Wednesday night.

EFD officials presented awards at the Civic Center for heroic actions in a house fire that occurred in July, as well as a water rescue in August.

In July, that fire threatened the lives of seven people, including several children.

Firefighters were able to get them all out of the building, even passing a toddler through open windows while the fire was raging. Unfortunately, that toddler, Ophelia Young, would later die in the hospital.

“It tends to stick with you a little bit,” said Chad Buttry, EFD’s Engine 10 Captain. “We tend to think of the bad instead of the good sometimes.”

Young’s family was in attendance on Wednesday as the three men who did everything they could to rescue her and save them all were honored with bronze merit awards.

The whole responding crew was recognized with a company citation.

“I think the appreciation that administration and the city has given to the guys on the fire trucks is right where they need to be even if the outcome isn’t the best,” Buttry said.

Firefighter Daniel Brown was awarded with a silver merit award after he witnessed a woman fall off a bridge on his way home. He went in after her and saved her life.

He said the awards are special not just for the recognition, but because he was nominated by his fellow firefighters.

“Knowing that it’s your brother and sister firefighters recognizing you that’s all you really want,” he said.

The fire department also announced that the state offered them an award.

Their training division was named the 2022 Indiana Fire Chief’s Association Training Division of the Year.

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