| Name: | Michael Smalley |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Nokomis Area Fire Protection District |
| Type of Firefighter: | |
| Rank: | Captain |
| Type of Duty: | Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Honor |
| Year of Award: | 2017 |
| Incident City: | Nokomis |
| Year of Incident: | 2016 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Captain Michael Smalley of the Nokomis Area Fire Protection District received the Medal of Honor for his efforts to rescue an infant trapped in a burning residence in Nokomis, IL on January 5, 2016.
On the morning of January 5, 2016, a residential fire started. Several people who lived nearby, including a few volunteer firefighters, and a police officer, attempted to get into the house upon reports that an 18-month-old infant girl was still trapped inside. They attempted to conduct a rescue themselves, but had to turn back in the face of intense heat and smoke without the proper gear. Captain Smalley was among the first engine company to respond and enter the heavily smoke-filled house. Since he already knew the layout of the house, Smalley was able to reasonably navigate it, despite the low visibility. He was able to find the infant in a crib on the second floor and bring her to safety. By the time he escaped the house and handed the infant to paramedics, other firefighters were already extinguishing the flames he ran through to get upstairs.
Citations:Unflinching Firemen Describe Baby Rescue,
The Journal-News, January 13, 2016.
Local Firefighters, Paramedics Honored For Acts Of Heroism,
The Journal-News, May 10, 2017.
Nokomis firefighter celebrated as hero at annual Statehouse observance,
The State Journal-Register, May 9, 2017.