SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Fire Department held an emotional ceremony to honor local heroes who have put their lives on the line. Fire Chief Julie O’Berg emphasized the significance of this event.
“Yeah, it’s if we don’t just hand these out,” said O’Berg.
Among the many recognized for their efforts, two firefighters stood out: Fire Equipment Operator Cliff York and Firefighter Brennan Cooke. They received the Medal of Valor for their courageous actions.
Their bravery was notably demonstrated during a house fire on April 20 in the North Central neighborhood.
Within nine minutes of dispatch, York and Cooke managed to locate and retrieve all victims from the burning house.
“Bordering on superhuman effort, Cliff and Brennan employed a ladder, forcible entry tools, and a chainsaw to remove the four unresponsive victims,” stated Chief O’Berg.
Chief O’Berg noted that while these awards highlight outstanding bravery, the recipients often downplay their heroism.
“None of these guys would say they did anything special; they all believe they were just doing their job, and they were. That is why we’re here, but the level of proficiency that they did at needs to be recognized,” said O’Berg.
The award process requires a firefighter to be nominated by their peers. The nomination is then reviewed by an awards committee before being approved by the Chief.
