FIREFIGHTERS HONORED FOR SAVING WOMAN

Lincolnton City councilman Fred Houser (left) prepares to present awards to Lincolnton firefighters Captain Rick Blackwell; Kurt Boles; Marco Gonzalez; Jason Blackwell; and Jordan Barkley for their heroic efforts in saving a woman from a burning McBee Street residene last year.Photo by Elizabeth Mayhew/TCS.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Five Lincolnton firefighters were awarded Thursday night for pulling a woman from a burning McBee Street residence last year.

Lincolnton City councilman Fred Houser presented the department's Life Saving award to Captain Rick Blackwell, fire engineer Kurt Boyles and firefighter Marko Gonzalez. The department's Medical Life Saving award was also presented to fire engineer Kurt Boyles, firefighter Jason Blackwell and firefighter Jordan Barkley.

On Dec. 4, 2008, firefighters were dispatched to 813 McBee Street after a caller advised smoke was coming from the eaves of the residence.

Authorities learned Bessie Ford was still inside the residence.

Blackwell, Boyles and Gonzalez entered the burning residence in search of Ford. Met by heat and blinding smoke, the rescue team found the woman lying lifeless on a couch in the den area of the residence.

Boyles and Gonzalez carried Ford out of the residence. Once outside, it was determined that Ford was dead.

Boyles and firefighters Blackwell and Barkley began resuscitation efforts on Ford. Medical care of the victim was turned over to Lincoln medics upon their arrival to the scene.

Medics brought Ford back to life before transporting her to Carolinas Medical Center Lincoln. Ford was airlifted to Wake Forest Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where she remains.

"Tonight, we're not only recognizing the firefighters that had a direct influence on the rescue of Ms. Ford," said Lincolnton mayor David Black. "We're also recognizing the extraordinary firefighters that supported the rescue efforts by providing command, back-up crews, ventilation and water supply to the overall opeeration."

The Life Saving award is given to a firefighter who had a direct influence in removing an individual from a life-threatening situation. The Medical Life Saving award is awarded to firefighters who performed an acceptable medical procedure on a patient, prolonging a patient's life.