Upper Darby lifesavers honored for fire rescue
PHILADELPHIA » The National Liberty Museum presented 12 Awards of Valor to police officers and firefighters in the tri-state area on Sept. 12 in the Museum’s Liberty Hall.
Now in its 13th season, the Awards of Valor event, sponsored by local Chevrolet dealers, honors extraordinary area police officers and firefighters for their remarkable acts of heroism and for being role models in their communities. Upper Darby police and firefighters were among this year’s honorees, recognized for courageously putting their lives and safety on hold while they worked collaboratively - and successfully - to save a local couple from their burning home.
The 2nd Platoon of the Upper Darby Police Department and two Upper Darby firefighters were honored with the Valor in Emergency Response Team award. Recipients include Upper Darby Police Sgt. Sean Kenny, Officers Anthony Bateman, Joseph DiFrancesco and William Sides and firefighters Bob Fowler of the Garrettford Drexel Hill Fire Co. and Kyle Johnson of the Primos-Secane-Westbrook Park Fire Co. The honorees were chosen for their response to a fire at a residence in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby last May.
“It was an honor to receive this award with my co-workers,” Upper Darby Police Officer Joseph DiFrancesco remarked. “I’d like to thank all who were involved who made this happen.”
The Delaware County 911 Center dispatched Upper Darby fire and police units to 1107 Alexander Ave. at 9:45 p.m. for the report of a residential fire with occupants trapped inside. First responders began arriving within two minutes of the emergency call and found the entire block covered in smoke. The responders included Sgt. Kenny, police officers Sides, Bateman, and DiFrancesco, as well as off-duty firefighters Bob Fowler and Kyle Johnson. Sides and Bateman quickly made entry to the front of the home and found an overwhelming smoke condition inside. A few moments later, Kenny and DiFrancesco forced entry in the rear of the property and were also met by dense smoke. Without the aid of protective clothing or equipment, all four men entered the split level structure in search of victims. The officers in the front soon discovered Ronald Davis in a semi-conscious state on the floor of his living room. They communicated their findings to the officers coming in from the back and then removed the homeowner out to the front lawn.
Kenny, DiFrancesco, and Fowler then teamed up to complete the rescue of Vanessa Davis. The woman had reacted to the sound of the smoke detector, discovered the fire, called 911 and had managed to make it out of her second floor window onto the back porch roof with her dog. It was from her temporary place of refuge that she had encouraged the officers to get her husband first from the interior of the first floor. While Davis was being helped to safety in the front, a contractor’s ladder was located and used to gain access to the back porch roof. DiFrancesco and Fowler went up to Mrs. Davis and passed her dog down to the ground before coaching her down the ladder. Kenny and Johnson supported both the ladder, and Mrs. Davis, while she made her way down to the ground. Paramedics transported the couple to Delaware County Memorial Hospital where they were treated and later released. Last week’s Awards of Valor ceremony was emceed by NBC10 reporter Harry Hairston. Heroes were nominated for valor in emergency response, individual; valor in emergency response-team; meritorious community service individual; and meritorious community service- team. After receiving over 60 submissions this year from citizens, police and fire chiefs, community activists and town administrators, the judging was then carried out by the National Liberty Museum’s leadership in consultation with Chevrolet. The stories of the Awards of Valor winners will be displayed in the National Liberty Museum’s Live Like a Hero gallery for one year in a captivating visual exhibit for all museum-goers to see.
“Getting this award was unexpected and a great honor,” commented Kenny.
“The Awards of Valor recipients have stories that are gripping and inspiring, representing the very best of what the museum considers ‘everyday heroes,’” said Gwen Borowsky, executive director of the National Liberty Museum. “This award recognizes the brave individuals who selflessly and unhesitatingly put themselves