DAGSBORO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT Medal of Valor Award Assistant Chief Chad Dorey Lieutenant Frank Bunting Firefighter Megan Hudson Firefighter Nick Ciampo Fatal Mobile Home Fire 26465 Handy Road - Millsboro On the morning of 14 October 2009, while Engine 732 & Rescue 73 crews were engaged in fire prevention activities at the Lighthouse Christian School, Sussex EOC dispatched the Millsboro and Dagsboro fire departments on a box assignment for a mobile home fire with possible entrapment at 26465 Handy Road. While Engine 732 returned to off load its children from a fire truck ride, Utility 7312 with Chief Thomas Glenn, and Rescue 73 with Lieutenant Chad Hudson immediately responded with a staffing of nine. Chief Larry Gum and Utility 12 both arrived with Chief Gum reporting heavy fire and establishing Incident Command. Rescue 73 arrived first due and was met by several Millsboro Police Department units who advised that they had heard someone inside the residence toward the “C/D” corner. The Rescue 73 crew performed an immediate ventilation, entry, and search without the protection of a hand line. Lieutenant Frank Bunting and Firefighter Megan Hudson breached the exterior wall on side "C" with hand tools, thereby allowing Firefighter Nick Ciampo to enter the hole and attempt a quick search of the bedroom. This proved unsuccessful because interior conditions were rapidly deteriorating with water yet unavailable, Lieutenant Hudson withdrew Firefighter Ciampo from the residence. With the arrival of Engine 732, the crews from Rescue 73 and Engine 732 began stretching lines. Lieutenant Bunting & Firefighter Hudson advanced a 1¾” smooth bore line through the rear door on the “D” side, and began an aggressive and simultaneous fire attack and interior search. They encountered a large amount of household debris, zero visibility, heavy fire, and an intense heat condition. After briefly backing out to clear some furniture, Lieutenant Bunting and Firefighter Hudson re-entered the residence, and again attempted to advance. With interior conditions continuing to deteriorate, the front half of the residence suffered a total collapse sending fire and extreme heat through the rear of the residence and over the crouching firefighters. Holding their ground, they stopped any additional fire involvement. With the bulk of the fire knocked down, and being low on SCBA air, Lieutenant Bunting and Firefighter Hudson backed out and were relieved by a fresh crew. An aggressive search and overhaul was started with a large amount of household material needing removal. During the search and overhaul, Assistant Chief Dorey discovered the victim buried under a considerable amount of debris in the hallway near the collapsed section of the home. The victim was removed and pronounced deceased by EMS. In grateful recognition of the courage and determination displayed at considerable personal risk in their valiant attempt to rescue a fellow citizen, the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department is honored to present the Medal of Valor Award to: Assistant Chief Chad Dorey Lieutenant Frank Bunting Firefighter Megan Hudson Firefighter Nick Ciampo May God bless our award recipients, and may God bless the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department.