| Name: | John Brens |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Highland Park Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Type of Duty: | Emergency medical care, Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2023 |
| Incident City: | Highland Park |
| Year of Incident: | 2022 |
| Incident Location Type: | Commercial |
| Incident Attribute: |
On July 4, 2022, at 10:14 a.m. a gunman opened fire on the Independence Day parade participants and attendees in downtown Highland Park, IL. The attack took place just 15 minutes after the parade began, seven people were killed, and 48 others were wounded.
The Highland Park Fire and Police Department took quick, life-saving actions to treat victims and safely evacuate attendees. Firefighters who were in the parade, assigned to work during the parade, and off-duty all immediately arrived at the scene to begin helping those in need.
The Highland Park Fire Department has continued to assist the city and its residents in recovery and resiliency since the incident.
Highland Park Lieutenant John Brens was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions during the Highland Park parade shooting on July 4, 2022.
Lieutenant Brens was not in attendance at the parade and heard news of the shooting from his home. Worried that his co-workers and their families were victims of the shooting, Lieutenant Brens rushed to the scene. Since he arrived so quickly, he assisted in scene operations including loading patients into ambulances, searching for victims, and filling vacancies wherever else needed. Without regard for his own safety, Lieutenant Brens worked in the hot zone until he was ordered to return to Station 33.
Citations:
Highland Park Fire Department
7th Person Dies Day After Highland Park Parade Mass Shooting.
NBC Chicago, www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/7th-person-dies-day-after-highland-park-parade-mass-shooting/2873971.