2002-06-24 Regular Meeting and Workshop Meeting

Browse Search

City of La Porte . Administrative ServiceS"bepartment Human Resources Division e Interoffice Memorandum May 14, 2002 To: Martha Gillett, City Secretary From: Lorie Doughty, Human Resources Manager Subject: Council Agenda Item Request, June 24, 2002 Employee of the Quarter: 1st Quarter, 2002 January, February & March Please include an Employee of the Quarter for the 1st Quarter of 2002 presentation on the Agenda for the Council Meeting scheduled on June 24th, 2002. The award will be presented to: BILLY DALMOLlN The City of La Porte is exceptionally proud of Billy Dalmolin, Fire Engineer for the City. On the morning of January 7, 2002, we were dispatched to a house fire in the Bay Colony addition. Upon arrival, Unit 242, manned by firefighter Dalmolin, reported heavy smoke visible from a one-story house. One of the occupants who had been temporarily trapped in the house came up to Billy and said a little girl was still in the house, and gave instructions on which bedroom she was in. Being alone he made the decision to put on his SCBA, and attempt a rescue without hose line protection, or immediate back up. It is a very difficult decision that every firefighter may have to make in their careers, whether or not to attempt a rescue without hose line protection or backup. Fortunately, Billy's training and experience took over, and with the conditions visible, he felt time was of the essence, and he made entry. Smoke and heat conditions were becoming intolerable throughout the house, but Billy found the bedroom as described, and as he explained to me, his training kicked in and he began a systematic search of the little girl's room. Within seconds after entering the room he located the girl on the floor at the foot of the bed. He picked her up, and determined he could not go back out the way he came due to the heat buildup, so he broke out a window and passed the girl out. The child was resuscitated, and Life Flighted. Unfortunately the child died the next day. While the loss of this child was indeed tragic, Billy's bravery and quick reaction made possible the donations of precious organs. Everyone worked well as a team that morning, and as a result of one firefighter's actions life was temporarily saved so that others may live. Had Billy not made that difficult decision to enter the house, all of this would have been just another tragic loss of life. Hats off to an outstanding job!