Fire Department

The City of Madison Fire Department is proud to announce that Apparatus Engineer Todd Sailor has received Firehouse Magazine's 2009 Heroism and Community Service Award.

This award program, the largest of its kind in the United States, is presented to firefighters, fire companies, and individuals who perform heroic acts and extraordinary community service above and beyond the call of duty.

On June 13, 2008, Apparatus Engineer Todd Sailor was on his way to work when he saw a crash involving a passenger vehicle and semi-trailer truck in his rearview mirror.

The passenger car was wedged under the semi and had caught on fire. Sailor pulled his car to the side of the highway and ran back to assist. He and two civilians pulled the woman from the car and carried her to safety.

Apart from the physical nature of the rescue, Sailor's experience as an Apparatus Engineer was a key factor in getting help to the scene quickly. He called 911 as soon as he witnessed the crash and provided directions to incoming emergency units.

"The City of Madison Fire Department has always been and continues to be about service," said Chief Debra Amesqua. "Those who depend on us as first-responders also depend on us to challenge ourselves. We are proud of the work AE Sailor does day-to-day and we commend his drive to be of service to the community whether on-duty or off."

Firehouse Magazine is a monthly publication featuring articles on firefighter and emergency medical training, responder safety, industry news, leadership, and incident studies. The magazine's Web site address is www.firehouse.com