Two Firefighters Receive Medal of Valor

Several other members of CFD honored with awards during ceremony

COLUMBIA, SC – Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins presented the Medal of Valor to Engineer Anthony Holloway and Firefighter Ronald Odom during a ceremony held last week at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.  Both Holloway and Odom were on scene of a house fire attempting to make entry into a second floor window using a ground ladder to search for a child inside the heavily involved house fire; when the ladder collapsed and both fell from the ladder. Despite both firefighters receiving injuries they immediately got up and reestablished the ladder and made entry to the home to continue searching.  It was not until after they made a complete search that the child had safely exited the home before CFD arrived.

Chief Jenkins said, “This exemplifies what the CFD stands for, to have the fortitude and bravery to push through an injury and fire conditions in an attempt to locate a possible victim.”

Chief Jenkins also awarded several “Firefighter of the Year” awards:

Battalion Chief Christopher Kip was awarded Chief Officer of the Year, Captain Ryan Gates was awarded Officer of the Year, Engineer Jacob Eller was awarded Engineer of the Year, Senior Firefighter Chris Ford was awarded Senior Firefighter of the Year, Firefighter Chris Corely was awarded Firefighter of the Year, Captain Michael Snedden was awarded Volunteer Firefighter of the Year and Ms. Cynthia LeFebvre was awarded Support Staff of the Year.