2 Joliet Firefighters Honored For Heroism

JOLIET, IL — Two members of the Joliet Fire Department were honored this week as the 2019 Joliet Exchange Club firefighters of the year recipients. The honorees are Joliet Firefighter-Paramedic Dan Traina and Fire Lt. Steve Rutten. Their engine crew responded to a burning home on the afternoon of Friday, March 22 at 1906 Glacier Ridge Drive, on Joliet's far west side.

"Leaving the relative safety of the hose line, Firefighters Traina and Rutten faced dangerous levels of convected heat and smoke as the area had quickly become uninhabitable during the fire," their Exchange Club award nomination states. "Within moments, they found an adult female resident unconscious, face down, lying near her bedroom door, overcome by the smoke and heat.

"Firefighters Traina and Rutten, relying on years of experience and training, quickly identified the victim, recognized the critical nature of her physical condition, and proceeded to move her through the second floor hallway, down the stairs, and into the first floor entryway. From the entryway she was carried to a waiting ambulance where she received Advanced Life from Department Paramedics and was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center."

In the aftermath of the fire, the woman's grandson, William Vera, has been charged in Will County Circuit Court with intentionally setting the blaze. Joliet Patch was in court when the criminal defendant blurted out to the judge during his initial court hearing that he was responsible for setting the fire.

"Firefighter Dan Traina and Firefighter Steven Rutten displayed the courage and commitment to service in the best traditions of the Fire Service and the Joliet Fire Department. For their heroic action, we would like to nominate FF. Dan Traina and FF. Steven Rutten for the Firefighter of the Year Award sponsored by the Exchange Club of Joliet," wrote Joliet Fire Captain Bob Wohlrab.