When Springdale Volunteer Fire Department Lt. Tanner Michael and firefighter Zachary Wilhelm rescued a man from a Cheswick fire last September, the two saw the work as routine to their job.
The pair was surprised with the Provident Agency Valor Award from the Allegheny County Fireman’s Association on Aug. 5, recognizing their efforts. The award is given to firefighters who “have exhibited exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind and swiftness of action, regardless of his or her own personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life, where the act is deemed to be above and beyond the call of duty.”
The pair also received the Western Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association’s heroism award.
“I was surprised,” Michael, who has been with the department for seven years, said. “There was a bit of time between that. We do the work and move on to the next.”
Wilhelm, who has been with the department for more than 8 years, said they were dispatched to a structure fire in Cheswick with a possible entrapment.
“As they put water on the fire, we realized no one searched the building,” he said.
The two split apart upstairs to look for a person believed to be trapped.
Michael said searching upstairs proved to be a task because of the 6 inches of visible light. He would be the one to find the victim, who was unresponsive and in cardiac arrest, under a bed. With the help of other firefighters, they were able to rescue the man from the fire.
Wilhelm said the man did not make it after being taken for medical attention.
“Had it not been for the fire, it would have been days before we found him,” Zachary Wilhelm said.
Wilhelm and Michael did not expect to receive an award for the incident because they said they respond to at least 30 structural fires a year. The awards were firsts for both of them.
“We are very grateful for the organization recognizing us,” Michael said.
Wilhelm said he is thankful for the award, but being considered a hero does not cross his mind when he does his job.
“As a firefighter serving our communities is something we signed up for and knew what we were doing,” he said.
Kevin Wilhelm said he is proud of the two.
“For two younger guys, it makes me very proud of them and the department,” he said.
Tanisha Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tanisha by email at tthomas@triblive.com or via Twitter .