| Name: | Phil Hutto |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Lockport Township Fire Protection District |
| Type of Firefighter: | |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2017 |
| Incident City: | Romeoville |
| Year of Incident: | 2016 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Lockport Township Fire Protection District Firefighter Phil Hutto was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions during a gas explosion in Romeoville on October 11, 2016.
Nicor Gas workers were repairing a two-inch natural gas line when it suddenly exploded, destroying two townhomes. Hutto and fellow firefighters were performing a routine, 360 assessment of the fire when Nicor workers informed him that one of them was trapped inside the debris. Hutto dropped his air pack and entered he confined area despite the fire moving towards them. The worker was pinned underneath a piece of burning debris and gasping for air. Hutto was able to rescue him and remove him from the wreckage.
Citations:
Jessica D’Onofrio and Will Jones, “Romeoville gas explosion levels 2 homes, injures 2 workers,” ABC7 Chicago, October 12, 2016.
Judy Hsu, “Firefighter honored for saving gas worker after Romeoville house explosion,” ABC7 Chicago, December 13, 2016.
Lockport Township Fire Protection District Facebook, January 25, 2020.