| Name: | Joseph Martinelli |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2016 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 2015 |
| Incident Location Type: | Commercial |
| Incident Attribute: |
Firefighter Joseph Martinelli of the Chicago Fire Department received the Medal of Valor for his efforts in rescuing a fellow firefighter from a partially collapsed burning structure on August 31, 2015.
The 10th battalion was among the first on the scene to the fire, advancing a hose line to the second floor into the bowling alley. Upon entering they faced heavy smoke conditions, and had begun to make an initial attack on the fire when they started to heard sounds of partial collapse. All companies were ordered to begin defensive operations, and after a personnel accountability report was conducted it was determined that a pipeman was missing.
The 2-11 alarm was raised while companies were still enroute to the fire. Squad Company 2 was dispatched to a working fire at a bowling alley on Lincoln Square, where the structure was already partially collapsed by the time they arrived. Firefighter Martinelli entered the structure and followed a hose line through thick heavy smoke in efforts to locate the missing firefighter. The firefighter activated a pass alarm to notify others of where he was, and Martinelli used its sound to find missing firefighter’s approximate location. Once found, the firefighter was noted to still have control of the hose line yet was disoriented to the point that he could not find his way out. Martinelli then guided the firefighter to the stairway, where they met with fellow Squad members. Another collapse happened within the building that sent more black smoke plumes their way, and all members made it quickly to the exterior of the building before it was completely engulfed in heavy flames.
Citations:2016 Valor Awards, 100 Club of Chicago.
Firefighter Joe Martinelli ’89 awarded for heroism,
Saint Patrick High School News, April 27, 2016.
36th annual Valor Awards recipient CFD Firefighter Joe Martinelli,
ChicagoAreaFire.com Blog, April 27, 2016.