| Name: | Thomas O'Connell |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2012 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 2011 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Firefighter Thomas O’Connell of Truck 41 of the Chicago Fire Department received the Medal of Valor for his actions to rescue a five-year-old boy from a residential fire in Chicago, Illinois on March 23, 2011.
Truck 41 responded to a dispatch of a fire at a one-story frame house on the 6400 block of South Wood Street. The fire spread rapidly from the basement to the first-floor, leaving a five-year-old boy trapped inside the residence. Members of Engine 116 led hose lines to the rear of the residence, while Squad 5 searched for victims. Firefighter O’Connell, with Truck 41, was also part of the search team. He made his way through zero visibility and intense heat in the basement to a bed. There he found the five-year-old boy unconscious. He lifted the child to another firefighter who passed him an open window. Subsequently, 19th Battalion Chief and Fire Engineer/EMT John Meade of Engine 101 performed CPR on the child.
Citations:
“Boy meets firefighter who saved his life.” ABC7Chicago.com, April 30, 2012.
“Council honors local firefighters.” The Beverly Review, June 22, 2011.
“Heroism & community service awards.” Firehouse, April 2012.
A Resolution Adopted by the City Council of the City of Chicago, Illinois. June 8, 2011.