| Name: | Eric Becks |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Quincy Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Honor |
| Year of Award: | 2012 |
| Incident City: | Quincy |
| Year of Incident: | 2012 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Lieutenant Eric Becks and Firefighter Justin Twaddle of the Quincy Fire Department’s Engine 5 were awarded the Medal of Honor for their efforts to rescue an infant girl from a residential fire in Quincy, Illinois on January 3, 2012.
At about 6:15 AM, Lieutenant Becks and Firefighter Twaddle of Engine 5 received a dispatch that a baby was trapped in an upstairs bedroom at 303 Ohio Street. When they arrived at the residence, they found the second story on fire. The fire was most likely caused by an overloaded extension cord. The baby’s grandfather directed them to the north side of the house after several family members unsuccessfully attempted a rescue.
They ascended the stairs through near-zero visibility and intense heat. Twaddle could just barely make out the crib in the upstairs bedroom. He grabbed the fourteen-month-old girl out of the crib and then proceeded to keep as low to the ground as possible. The two firefighters exited the fiery structure as promptly as possible. Once outside, they initiated CPR on the small child, who suffered second- and third-degree burns. Both firefighters were treated for minor burns after the rescue as well.
Citations:
“Fire breaks out at home in Quincy,” ConnectTriStates.com, January 4, 2012.
“Firefighters get state’s top award for Ella rescue,” ConnectTriStates.com, May 10, 2012.
“In his own words: Twaddle’s courage under fire,” Cross & Crescent, April, 2012.
“Quincy firefighters honored at Council meeting,” Quincy Journal, March, 2012.
“Quincy firefighters receive Firefighter Medal of Honor,” Quincy Journal, May 7, 2012.