| Name: | Michael Babb |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Waukegan 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: | Waukegan |
| Year of Incident: | 2010 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Lieutenant Tom Christensen, Firefighter Michael Babb, and Firefighter Jacob Mount of the Waukegan Fire Department were awarded the Medal of Valor for their efforts to assist in the rescue of two children from a residential fire in Waukegan, Illinois on August 8, 2010.
The Waukegan Fire Department received a dispatch about a fire in the 3100 block of Concord Lane, which is located near the Midlane Golf Resort. A neighbor said two children were trapped inside and black smoke was billowing out of the windows. Once on the scene, Firefighters Robert Callahan and Tim McGrain forced their way inside the home and found a seven-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy unconscious in a second story bedroom. Both men were awarded the Firefighter Excellence Award for their actions.
Providing crucial assistance were Lieutenant Christensen, Firefighter Babb, and Firefighter Mount. They called for backup and coordinated a helicopter landing at the nearby golf course to transport the children to the hospital. Because of their efforts, the children’s lives were saved and fellow firefighters were able to extinguish the flames.
Citations:
“Ceremony honors fallen firefighters, recognizes 36 others for life-saving acts of bravery,” Illinois Government News Network, May 12, 2011.
“[Minutes].” City of Waukegan, March 7, 2011.
“Rescuers at 2010 Waukegan fire earn Call of Year award,” Lake County News-Sun, June 20, 2011.
“State Marshal honors 7 Waukegan firefighters,” Lake County News-Sun, May 12, 2011.