Firefighters To Recieve Highest Of Mfb Honours

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20th November 2009, 03:10pm - Views: 1996





People Feature MFB 1 image

MEDIA ALERT


Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board



456 Albert Street, East Melbourne 3002 

Tel (03) 9662 2311  Fax (03) 9665 4244  


20 November 2009

12.00pm


Firefighters to receive the highest of MFB honours


The MFB will be awarding the first Valour Medals since 1959 at a ceremony in Melbourne at the

MCG on Monday 23 November 2009.

MFB President Adrian Nye and CEO Ken Latta will be presenting the Medals, as well as Board

Citations of Service and Chief Officer Commendations acknowledging the bravery and dedication

displayed by MFB firefighters at an incident at Yarraville in 2007.

The Valour Medal is awarded for outstanding bravery in the course of operations and is the highest

honour to be awarded by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

This occasion will recognise the bravery displayed by three MFB firefighters, who on 12 October

2007 put their own lives at risk to save the life of a colleague.


PHOTO OPPORTUNITY


WHAT:


Presentation of MFB Valour Medals


WHO:


MFB President Adrian Nye and CEO Ken Latta



Chief Fire Officer Tony Murphy



Valour medal recipients


WHEN:


10.10am



Monday 23 November 2009


WHERE: 

MCG 



Concourse, outside Gate 3



Melway: 2G D6


For further information please contact:


Jennifer Roberts

Communications Coordinator

0400 919 778

jroberts@mfb.vic.gov.au

People Feature MFB 2 image

MEDIA ALERT


Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board



456 Albert Street, East Melbourne 3002 

Tel (03) 9662 2311  Fax (03) 9665 4244  


Background Information


The MFB

All MFB firefighters are full time career firefighters and serve an area covering more than 1,000 square

kilometres incorporating Melbourne’s CBD, inner and middle suburbs. The MFB protects almost four million

residents, workers and visitors and more than $200 billion of assets and community infrastructure.


Yarraville incident and acknowledgement

On 12 October 2007, MFB Leading Firefighter Richard Zapart sustained life-threatening burns while battling

a fire at a furniture business in Yarraville.  Leading Firefighter Mark Fincher, Leading Firefighter Brian

O’Connell and Senior Firefighter Russell Johnson re-entered the burning building at considerable personal

risk to rescue Leading Firefighter Zapart following total fire engulfment of a compartment that trapped

Richard.

MFB Firefighters and paramedics revived Leading Firefighter Zapart on scene and then returned to fighting

the blaze with oncoming crews. 

These actions were undertaken in the most professional manner and with little concern for their own

personal safety.  

Although these firefighters sustained their own injuries from the engulfment and were dealing with the

stress of an injured colleague, they never once wavered from the task at hand and displayed immense

courage.

This incident – both horrific in nature and lasting in impact - has displayed the very best qualities of MFB

staff: camaraderie, dedication and bravery. 

This Valour Medal ceremony will recognise the bravery displayed by LFF Mark Fincher, LFF Brian

O’Connell and SFF Russell Johnson for their actions on 12 October 2007. 

The ceremony will also recognise a number of other firefighters who worked tirelessly and diligently to

provide care for LFF Zapart and in mounting the attack on the fire.


The MFB Valour Medal

The MFB’s award system is in place to recognise acts of service which go beyond the call of duty and the

Valour Medal is awarded for outstanding bravery in the course of operations. 

The Valour Medal is the highest honour to be awarded by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and this is the first

time since 1959 it has been awarded (the last recipient was H.A. Stirling in 1959).






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