| Name: | Salvatore Mastrodomenico |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2011 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 2010 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: |
Firefighter/E.M.T. Salvatore Mastrodomenico of the Chicago Fire Department received the Medal of Valor for his actions to rescue a person trapped in the basement of a residence on fire on July 24, 2010.
Truck 49 responded to a residential fire with reports that someone was still inside in the early morning. Mastrodomenico broke boarded up windows of the basement and was faced with heavy black smoke, 6 inches of flooding from rain, and clutter in the way of finding people in need. Additional apparatus was called to contain the free-burning fire, and despite the obstacles Mastrodomenico and Lieutenant Gilbert Munoz attempted to crawl past the area of the fire in search of victims. There was zero visibility, causing them to have to feel around for any people. They came across a bedroom where Mastrodomenico found an unconscious elderly man in critical condition on the floor beside a bed. Both firefighters removed the man from the water and had him carried upstairs to a waiting EMS crew.
Citations:Chicago Firefighter/EMT Salvatore Mastrodomenico, Firehouse.com News, April 11, 2011.
Heroism’s Top Winners 2010 Firehouse Magazine: Heroism and Community Service Awards, April 2011.
Communications, etc. Gratitude Extended to Lieutenant Gilbert Munoz and Fire Fighter/E.M.T. Salvatore Mastrodomenico for Life Saving Rescue,
Office of the Chicago City Clerk, September 8, 2010.