KCBD NewsChannel 11 LubbockTwo Lubbock firefighters receive Medal of Valor

Two Lubbock firefighters earned the Medal of Valor Monday for actions taken during a structure fire on July 31. 

Clint Morris and Jeremy Milam of engine 6, B-shift were each presented with a Medal of Valor by Chief Mike Kemp.

The Lubbock Fire Department says the award is "presented to those who, under especially hazardous conditions, have exhibited personal courage in an effort to rescue or protect another."

They were nominated by their Lieutenant, Jeff Isom, who submitted an account of the incident.

Here's an excerpt from Isom's report:

"Clint made it outside and was pulling our hose line out, leading us to the door. In the living room is where the fire was growing and when Jeremy came back into that room he was in a full fog pattern and I was standing in flames. All I could see was fire!

"Jeremy hit me with the fog stream and never gave up fighting the fire. I tried to call a Mayday but my emergency button on my microphone did not work. Other radio traffic would not let me tell command we were in trouble. Clint continued to pull the hose line and Jeremy continued to fight the fire. We exited the house from the front door. Our PPV fan had quit and that is what caused the fire conditions we had. I believe it was a flashover.

"Two things stick out in my mind from this fire. One, I was standing in fire. Two, steam coming off of our gear when standing outside at 1:30 in the morning on the last day of July in the middle of summer. I have only seen that in the winter time.

"Additionally, I and my crew used 5 air bottles at this fire as well as overhauling for a while without air packs. My crew did not quit after experiencing what we did.

"Last night, like every shift since then, when I put my helmet on the engine, I see the melted reflective decals and it is a reminder for me to pay closer attention to my crew, fire conditions and the tasks at hand."

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