March 20, 2009

Rescue Squad Staff Members Receive Gold Medals of Valor

for Saving Toddlers from House Fire 

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad firefighters Curtis Warfield and John Klavon have been awarded Gold medals of valor from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce for their outstanding rescue of two small children from a house  fire in December 2008. 

“This is an exceptional honor,” said Rescue Squad Chief Ned Sherburne, “They are only the 11th and 12th recipients of this level award in the 35-year history of the awards program.”

At approximately 1:45 pm on Wednesday, December 3, 2008, Rescue Squad 741 (one of the B-CC Rescue Squad’s two heavy rescue units) responded with units from other departments to a house fire on Jamestown Road in Bethesda. Upon arrival, the Squad’s personnel received a report of children trapped inside the house.  While members of other departments began suppressing the fire,  Lieutenant. Warfield and Master Firefighter Klavon entered the burning house, along with other firefighters.  They were the first to climb the stairs to the second story where the children were reported to be and began a search for them.  With smoke banking down to the floor, Rescue Squad 741's crew found two small children in their cribs, which were covered by protective netting.  Warfield and Klavon cut the protective netting and removed the children, but they were unable to retrieve the third child.  They left the house with the first two children and directed another crew from a neighboring department to the area where a successful rescue of the third child was made.

Warfield and Klavon began resuscitation efforts and then, once outside, transferred the children to other fire/rescue crews, who treated and transported all three triplets to a local hospital.

In addition to today’s awards, Lt. Warfield and Master Firefighter Klavon were recognized as “Everyday Heroes,” along with several other members of the B-CC Rescue Squad and other departments, by County Executive Ike Leggett at a ceremony on February 12, 2009.   Click here for more information.

About the Rescue Squad

              Now in its 69th year, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad is a community-supported non-profit organization that provides, at no charge to the recipient, professional fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland area, as well as Upper Northwest Washington, D.C.  The spirit, commitment, dedication, and operational skills of its members are the defining characteristics of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad.   The Squad provides the community with the security and peace of mind that comes with emergency services that are among the best in the United States.

              The Rescue Squad does not receive regular budgeted funds from any government.  Instead, the Squad raises almost all of its $2 million operating budget from individual donors, foundations, businesses, and occasional state and federal grants.  The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad is registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to the Squad are tax-deductible as allowable by law.

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