Several community members were honored Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 23, during a recognition ceremony hosted by the Bellefontaine Fire Department, highlighting moments when quick thinking and decisive action made the difference between life and death.
Fire Chief Brian Wilson presented the awards at the fire station, joined by family members, friends and Mayor Dave Crissman.
Chief Wilson opened the ceremony by reading the Webster definition of a hero, describing it as someone admired for courage, achievement and noble qualities. He said each individual recognized demonstrated those traits by stepping in without hesitation during emergencies.
The first recognition involved two teenagers whose actions helped prevent a house fire from turning deadly during Memorial Day weekend.
On May 26, Andrew Larison and Noah Smith were walking with family members to the Memorial Day parade when they noticed smoke coming from behind a residence on Oakwood Drive. At first, the smoke appeared to be from a grill or smoker, but the teens decided to take a closer look.
After discovering flames on the back porch, the boys immediately called 911 and began knocking on doors to alert anyone inside. Homeowner Patricia Forsythe heard the knocking, realized her house was on fire and escaped without injury.
Fire investigators later determined the fire had started in the attic and had been burning unnoticed for some time. Officials said the situation could have escalated significantly had the teens not acted quickly.
Another award recognized a bystander whose immediate response helped save a man suffering a medical emergency on May 5.
Bellefontaine medics were dispatched to a local business for a report of a man experiencing a seizure. While en route, dispatchers advised that the man was not breathing and that CPR had begun.
Responders arrived to find the patient unresponsive and cyanotic, with CPR being performed by Steve Fields. Fields told medics he heard a loud crash when the man fell into metal shelving, found him unconscious and began chest compressions without delay.
Chief Wilson emphasized that survival chances decrease rapidly when CPR is delayed, underscoring the importance of Fields’ actions.
The patient received multiple defibrillator shocks and advanced life support while being transported to Mary Rutan Hospital. He was later transferred to a Columbus hospital for additional treatment and was released several days later. Officials said he has since returned to his normal daily routine.
The final recognition honored a group of Hoffman Municipal Pool lifeguards for their response to an emergency on July 2.
Emergency crews were called to the pool for a report of a male swimmer who was either not breathing or had suffered a possible spinal injury, prompting a medical helicopter to be placed on standby.
Lifeguards noticed the man floating face down in the water, immediately activated their emergency action plan and entered the pool to remove him. The man was blue in color and had water coming from his mouth.
The lifeguards placed him in the recovery position and applied an automated external defibrillator until EMS arrived. While being treated in the ambulance, the man regained consciousness and was able to speak with responders. He was transported to Mary Rutan Hospital and later released following further evaluation.
Although CPR was not required, Chief Wilson said the lifeguards’ rapid and coordinated response directly led to saving a life and elevated the recognition to a LifeSaver Award.
Those honored included Ally Barker, Thomas Jones, Brooklyn Kuntz, Beckham Harman, Cati Snyder, Audrey Warren and Madison Christman.
Chief Wilson closed the ceremony by thanking each honoree for their willingness to act in critical moments, noting that their actions reflect the strength and compassion of the Bellefontaine community.
