Three firefighters have been awarded “Medals of Valor” by Boulder Fire Rescue as a result of three different life-saving incidents, the department said today.
This is the first time any firefighter has been awarded the Medal of Valor, according to a statement from the department.
Those receiving the medals are Engineer Don Conyac, Engineer Dave Richter, and Dave Zader, a wildland firefighter.
Conyac was given the honor for his actions on July 12, 2008, after a fire captain fell through a hole in an apartment complex fire at 949 Marine St.
According to the department, the fire captain was on his back in the burning building while another firefighter had dropped to his knees and spread his weight out, trying to determine how to move without causing further collapse.
Conyac found a small sturdy area to stand on, pulled the trapped captain from the hole and extinguished tar that was burning on the equipment on the captain’s back.
He helped several other firemen to escape.
Richter was recognized for saving his neighbors and two dogs from a fire in Lakewood on March 20, 2009, while Richter was off duty. He called 911 to report the fire, then ran into a burning home and helped a man and his stepdaughter to escape.
Several other animals perished in the blaze.
Zader was honored for his bravery during the Olde Stage Fire on Jan. 9, 2009. Zader was working the fire in the 6000 block of North Foothills Highway when he saw a member of the Sugarloaf Fire department running in front of a wall of flame that was rapidly closing in on the Sugarloaf firefighter.
Zader pulled his vehicle in front of the approaching flames and pulled the Sugarloaf firefighter to safety.
“The Medal of Valor is the highest honor in our department,” said Fire Chief Larry Donner. “It recognizes life-saving work that goes beyond the call of duty. All three of the recipients demonstrated that, putting their lives at risk to save others.”Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
