Firefighters honored for rescues
Service awards ceremony part of Fire Prevention Week
Milwaukee Fire Lt. Peter Nycz saw the smoke first.
Then, his eyes went to the man hanging out a second-story window.
Neighbors outside said the man had dropped three children out the window before their mother jumped after them and broke her leg.
Nycz directed two firefighters to get a ladder to rescue him immediately. More people were reported trapped inside the two-and-a-half story rooming house. So, he went in. He saw another man walking around in the thick smoke. The man ignored his calls to get out, so Nycz grabbed him and pulled him down the stairs and out the door to safety.
On Thursday, Nycz was among the more than 70 firefighters, paramedics and citizens honored during the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Meritorious and Community Service Awards.
“I’m just doing my job,” he said.
Nycz was working at Engine 28 with Nathan Klenz, Daniel Deller and Scott Michaels when they were called to the fire on June 22 at N. 29th St. and W. Mt. Vernon Ave. The entire crew received a fire unit award for its work.
“Time is of the essence because every couple seconds the fire is going to double in size,” Nycz said, adding his response is what all firefighters are trained to do.
Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing and Mayor Tom Barrett congratulated those being honored.
“We know that our firefighters give of themselves every day, on a large number of calls, a large variety of calls,” Rohlfing said. “We know it’s difficult work, and they do an outstanding job.”
The annual awards ceremony was part of Fire Prevention Week, which takes place every October and is used to promote fire safety.
Earlier in the day, retired Green Bay Packers player LeRoy Butler went with firefighters and members of the American Red Cross to install smoke alarms in a south side neighborhood near Engine House 23. Butler was named honorary fire chief for 2017.
The week concludes with a pizza lunch Friday for winners from Milwaukee schools who created artwork depicting this year’s prevention theme: “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” The winning designs will be featured on billboards.