![\"Kindness](\"https:\/\/missiontimescourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/E45B.jpg\")
<\/a>Although the purpose of the event was to honor firefighters and first responders for going that extra mile in serving the public, it was also a chance for Chief Fennessy \u2014 who will be leaving the department after 28 years for a job in Orange County \u2014 to say farewell to the foundation members who have helped to financially support the Fire Department.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been an honor and a privilege to serve as a member of this department for as many years as I have,\u201d Fennessy said. \u201cPublic safety has always been a top priority for Mayor Faulconer and the City Council. We\u2019re very fortunate to have their strong support and you can imagine there are many competing demands on a limited city budget. This is where the San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation comes in. The foundation has been a great partner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking to the nature of the Above & Beyond honors, Fennessy said the public has three expectations from their Fire Department: to respond to emergencies quickly; to be well-trained and know what to do; and to treat people with dignity and respect.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis sounds like a no-brainer, but trust me when I travel and have conversations with fire chiefs from throughout the U.S., this isn\u2019t always the case. We have something very special here in San Diego,\u201d he said, adding that the awards are for firefighters who \u201cdemonstrated acts of kindness above and beyond our expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first two honorees were not firefighters or lifeguards. Peter Seidler and Dan Shea are homeless advocates who were instrumental in building the industrial tent shelter. In a video presentation, the two said the hepatitis A outbreak was what \u201cpushed the city into doing it.\u201d The pair also said the program has been a success, taking over 700 homeless off the streets and cutting down on the number of emergency service calls dealing with homeless. The two were not in attendance but were each given an honorary white fire chief\u2019s helmet.<\/p>\n
Captain Kieran Maloney, engineer Steve Adler, firefighter-paramedic Justin Loftis, and firefighter Charles Lacey from Mission Valley\u2019s Station 45 were honored for kindness they showed when they responded to a call where woman had taken her own life and then learned she was a police officer.<\/p>\n
Lacey suggested getting a flag to honor the officer, and presented it to the police sergeant on the scene. When the medical examiner brought the body out, it was draped in the American flag, which was later given to the family.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe it seems like a simple thing, but it did mean a great deal to the fellow officers that were there,\u201d Hunt said in her presentation. \u201cIt helped on that dark day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Capt. David Allen, engineer Arlo Nieto, firefighter-paramedic David Ross, and firefighter James Montgomery of Station 33 in Rancho Bernardo answered a call to help a man who had fallen and was pinned to the floor. The paramedic stabilized him and took him to hospital while the rest of firefighters stayed behind to clean his house.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole level of professionalism and kindness they showed throughout the whole event was just overwhelming,\u201d said a family member of the man in the video presentation.<\/p>\n
When a 2-year-old girl got her hand stuck in the door of a truck, Captain Jack Middleton, engineer Jesus Arce, firefighter John Hernandez, and firefighter Isaac Chavez of Station 12 in Lincoln Park not only freed her without major injury, but also made sure she would see firefighters as people who help. Two days after the incident, the firefighters showed up at her door and brought coloring books and toys.<\/p>\n
A letter to Chief Fennessy earned firefighter Sierra Brown an Above & Beyond award. Brown had responded to a job site accident where a man fell on the job and died in route to the hospital \u2014 it was supposed to be his last job before retirement. A few days after the accident, Brown spoke with the man\u2019s niece and shared with her that her uncle had fought hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe showed the human side to firefighting in my eyes and I will not forget that,\u201d the niece wrote of Brown in her letter to the chief. \u201cIf there is a kind and compassionate award the city gives to staff doing more than their job description, Sierra should win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lifeguard chiefs James Gartland and Rick Wurts (ret.), Lt. John Sandmeyer, Lt. Richard Stropkey, and the Frost Family and Beach Cottages were honored for kindness they showed during the search for Taylor Watts, who fell off a pier and was missing for several weeks before his body was found. The lifeguards brought meals to and made personal connections with the Watts family, who flew out form their home in Houston, Texas, and even helped get them discounted hotel rooms while they went through the ordeal.<\/p>\n
The San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation was founded 13 years ago with mission to provide equipment, training, technology and community education resources above what the city budget can provide. For more information, visit sdfirerescue.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n