SK Firefighters Honored For 'Heroic' Rescue During March Fire

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — Six South Kingstown firefighters were honored this week for saving a person and their dog from a house fire earlier this year. Two were awarded heroic action medals, the highest honor ever given to active members of the department.

"The conditions that firefighters found when they arrived on scene were extremely dangerous, but they did their jobs without hesitation," Chief Steven Pinch says. "Their training kicked in and they put their own lives on the line to save another, and I could not be more proud of their efforts."

Capt. Tyler Parks and Lt. Eric Holmander were given heroic action medals for entering the house and risking their safety to rescue the victims. Four others were given distinguished service medals: Capt. Andrew Duckworth, who provided support; Lt. Matt Viner, who provided support; Lt. Dan Kiely, pump operator on scene; and Deputy Chief Anthony Cinquegrana, the commanding officer.

The fire happened in the early hours of March 20 in a housing complex on Curtis Corner Road. South Kingstown police, the first on the scene, unsuccessfully tried to rescue a person reported to be trapped inside. When the Union Fire District Crews arrived, firefighters found a man, unconscious, in a back bedroom, and were able to get him outside to safety.

No other people were in the building when the fire started, though firefighters were able to rescue a dog from the same unit.

The man was taken to the hospital and made a full recovery, the department said, and the dog was taken to a local veterinarian for care.