Fire Chief Bulanow recognizes personnel for going above and beyond the call of duty

Recognized: Eng. Stephanie Julazadeh, FF Michael Phillips, FF Brian Morton and FF Corey Shaw  A Letter from Chief Bulanow On February 16th upon arriving at work, Eng. Stephanie Julazadeh noticed a couple in the field area behind the Remount Road fire station who were packing up their bedding from apparently sleeping there the previous night.  Eng. Julazadeh spoke with the couple and learned that they were recently homeless and trying to get back on their feet.  After speaking with the couple, Eng. Julazadeh went to McDonalds and used her own money to purchase breakfast for them.  That evening the couple came back to Station 3 stating that they were concerned about the cold temperatures predicted for that night and asked if the crew knew of any place where they could stay.  With temperatures near freezing, the crew invited them into the apparatus bay to warm up and requested that dispatch send a police unit to see if they could assist.  In the meantime the crew continued to visit with the couple and learned that the husband is a military veteran and had a job interview scheduled for the following Monday.  A NCPD unit arrived at Station 3 and advised that all shelters were full and there was no assistance available to them.  The firefighters asked if the officers would be willing to transport the couple to a nearby hotel if the fire crew were to pay for the room and the officers agreed.  So Eng. Julazadeh, FF Michael Phillips, FF Morton and FF Shaw pooled their resources and gave the officers enough money to pay for the room and the officers took the couple to a nearby hotel where they spent the night.   While speaking to the couple the firefighters learned that the man had skills as a handyman.   FF Morton told the husband that he had some work that needed to be done at his house and offered the work to him.  He accepted and went to FF Morton’s house on Monday afternoon after his interview.  The crew has kept in touch with the couple and the man has secured basic employment and the couple has been able to maintain housing since that night. The members of this crew demonstrated great compassion to this couple. They went well out of their way to help them and sacrificially gave of their own money to help them in their time of need. To recognize the great compassion that they demonstrated, I am pleased to present Eng. Julazadeh, FF Michael Phillips, FF Brian Morton and FF Cory Shaw with a Letter of Commendation along with my admiration and gratitude.

Recognized: Captain James Langdon, FF Robert Marriot and FF Morgan Doyle  A Letter from Chief Bulanow On February 9, 2013, Engine 205 responded to an emergency call for a woman who had just given birth. The crew arrived and found an unconscious 20 year-old female with a still attached baby on the floor. The mother had lost consciousness while giving birth to the baby. The infant was blue, cold to the touch and was not breathing. Neighbors had found them and called 911. The crew immediately went to work. They clamped off and cut the umbilical cord and Captain Langdon and FF Marriot began providing care to the baby. They suctioned the mouth, provided warmth and rubbed the infant’s chest to stimulate breathing.  Meanwhile FF Doyle worked to care for and revive the mother and provided oxygen. By the time Charleston County EMS arrived to transport the mother and baby they were both conscious and breathing on their own. FF Marriot rode to the hospital while continuing to provide warmth and stimulation to the newborn infant.  I am pleased to report that due in large part to the care provided by this crew, the mother and baby were both revived with strong vital signs as confirmed when they arrived at the hospital. It is worth noting that both Captain Langdon and Firefighter Marriot were certified as EMTs and that FF Doyle has recently completed her EMT training and is preparing for her final test. For the swift and skillful care they provided, I am pleased to present Captain James Langdon, FF Robert Marriot and FF Morgan Doyle with a Unit Commendation along with my admiration and gratitude for a job well done.