Name: | Michael Vissering |
Gender: | Male |
Agency: | Northern Tazewell Fire Protection District |
Type of Firefighter: | Volunteer |
Rank: | Deputy Chief |
Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations |
Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
Year of Award: | 2019 |
Incident City: | Magnolia |
Year of Incident: | 2018 |
Incident Location Type: | Residential |
Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Northern Tazewell Fire Department Deputy Chief Michael Vissering was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions in a residential fire in Magnolia on June 8, 2018.
Vissering was driving when he noticed suspicious smoke. Following the smoke, he found a house where the garage was on fire. He called emergency services as he looked through the windows into the home. He then spotted an elderly man sitting on a chair in the living room as smoke filled the house. In an effort to gain the man’s attention Vissering banged on the windows, but the man was not responsive. Vissering then broke through three doors and pulled the man out of the living room, away from the fire.
Vissering called emergency services again to alert them to the changes in the situation. When medical personnel arrived, he handed the victim off to them and helped the firefighters put out the flames.
Citations:
Steve Stein, “Northern Tazewell deputy fire chief honored for saving Magnolia man,” Pekin Times, May 15, 2019.