Firefighters Recieve Award Of Valour

Hawaii responders get top IAFC honors for dramatic rescuesThe incident began with a pilot and student who made a crash landing, but obstacles developed along the way

By Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 Senior Editor

CHICAGO — Four responders who conducted dramatic rescues in poor weather and tough terrain in Hawaii were acknowledged for their bravery at Fire-Rescue International.

Captain Charles J. Metivier, Rescue Operator Kalani Abreu and Rescue Specialists Roy Constantino and Francisco Garcia of Fire Rescue 3 of the County of Kaua'i Fire Department were given the 2010 International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor on Thursday.

"My crew may say it was all in a day's work, but I will tell you that very few people can do this day's work and live to tell about it," Kaua'i Fire Chief Robert Westerman said.

The incident began with a pilot and student being last reported at 5,000 feet trying to fly in their aircraft through a hole in the clouds to Hanapepe Valley, a heavily-wooded area with a thick forest canopy.

Crews from Rescue 3 flew above the dense rainforest for about 45 minutes before spotting debris along a ridge in a ravine.

Constantino and Garcia were short-hauled into a stream bed below the crash site, but the 80-degree slope and 30-knot winds forced them to be pulled up and lowered through the forest canopy above the crash site.

They first reached the student, placing him in a rescue seat and harness so he could be extricated to a temporary landing site.

However, as conditions worsened, the helicopter was unable to extricate the seriously injured pilot to safety, despite repeated attempts, forcing Constantino and Garcia to remain overnight with him in the ravine.

At the same time, another call came in. A hunter with a possible broken leg was stranded on another ridge about 20 miles away. However, conditions made even that rescue attempt impossible.

Near dawn, the helicopter returned to both scenes, eventually being able to transport both men to hospitals after several attempts in the face of heavy rain and strong winds.

The Award for Valor is the highest honor bestowed by the IAFC, and is cosponsored by the IAFC and the Motorola Solutions business of Motorola, Inc.