Fire Department Technical Rescue Team Honored with Prestigious Awards

Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2005

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The Forsyth County Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team was recently honored with several highly distinguished awards in recognition of a successful 12-hour rescue performed in November 2004, just two months after the team first received formal trench rescue training.

The Technical Rescue Team was first honored in December 2004 by their co-workers with receipt of the Brant Chesney Award. This is an internal award the Fire Department bestows to its employees annually in recognition of a significant rescue and/or life saved. The award is named in honor of Firefighter Brant Chesney, killed in the line of duty on December 28, 1996.

Additionally, the team was recognized with the Lifesaving Valor Award in Valdosta, Georgia on August 6 during the annual banquet at the joint meeting of the Georgia State Firefighter’s Association/Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs. On-hand to accept the award were Firefighter/EMT Mark Davis and Firefighter/EMT Justin Suggs.

The Technical Rescue Team was also selected by Advanced Rescue Tech magazine to receive the second annual James B. "Jim" Gargan Award. Presented to the team at the EMS Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 25, this prestigious award is presented each year in memory of Jim Gargan, considered the founding father of the techniques, tools and training used to safely and effectively rescue those placed in peril of death or injury as a result of a cave-in situation.

Accepting this award were Deputy Fire Chief Dwight Clark, Battalion Chief Tony Chapman, Division Chief Lee Parker, Lieutenant Scott Kennedy, Firefighter/EMT Mark Davis, Firefighter/EMT Justin Suggs and Firefighter Mike Filimon.

"This is a very prestigious, international award," said Deputy Chief Dwight Clark. "We are honored to be this year's recipient and very proud of our team for their efforts in this rescue."

"The team got the real test two short months after their initial training," said Clark. "The rescue was a top-notch effort with outstanding results."

The 15-person team worked with the assistance of crews from Gwinnett and Cobb Counties for over twelve hours to free the man, who became trapped up to his neck after the trench in which he had been working suddenly collapsed.

The Technical Rescue Team is trained in several disciplines of rescue, including trench, confined space, rope rescue operations, structural collapse and heavy extrication. The team is one of six (6) special operations divisions within the Forsyth County Fire Department.

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