On September 12th, Firefighter Richard Appelhans was given a commendation from the American Legion along with a medal for Outstanding Heroism in recognition of his efforts in rescuing a disabled person during a structure fire. The fire, which occurred on March 22nd of this year, was in a three flat. As a member of the truck company, Firefighter Appelhans was assigned to do a search and rescue operation, and came upon an elderly woman trapped in her apartment and wheelchair bound. Richard was able to gain assistance of another resident and rescue the woman from the room as it was starting to fill with smoke.
The commendation was read and delivered by the American Legion at the fire department’s Board of Trustees meeting, with the medal being presented to and placed on Firefighter Appelhans by Chief Kevin Stenson.