Lt. Brian Moffitt, Driver/Engineer Christopher Richardson, Firefighter Nicholas Chapel and Firefighter Ryan Douglas of Colorado Springs (Colo.) Fire Department’s C-shift have been selected as this year’s winners of the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor.

On Jan. 16, a call came in for a structure fire at the Castle West Apartments, which cover most of a two-block area. Within seconds, many more calls began pouring in from both occupants trapped by the fire and witnesses outside. The burning apartment building was a 3-story, wood-frame, garden-level apartment with interior hallways and 135 units. It was built in 1968, prior to fire code upgrades, and did not have a sprinkler or general-alarm system.

The fire spread rapidly throughout the entire building and escape stairways were very quickly fully involved in fire. When occupants tried to make their exits, they found the hallways and stairways blocked by heavy smoke and fire. The first firefighters were on scene within three minutes of being dispatched; when they arrived, they saw heavy black smoke pouring over the complex and many occupants already hanging off of balconies, preparing to jump or jumping with heavy fire engulfing their apartments and blowing over their heads.

According to Fire Chief Manuel Navarro, despite a rapid response, there was no chance of saving the building. “They did some initial attack and realized the fire was going to overwhelm them immediately,” Navarro said. “They said, ‘We’re basically going to stop firefighting operations and just do rescues until we can get everyone out of here.’” Instead of extinguishing the blaze, all responding firefighters were ordered to focus on rescuing residents.

That night the temperature plummeted to just five degrees and the firefighters had to work in dangerous ice conditions and had little or no relief for hours. The initial attack and rescue included 107 operational personnel and another 17 in management and support roles using 27 pieces of apparatus. Nine crews from Colorado Springs rescued 85 occupants from the building using ladders; most were rescued from balconies or upper-story windows. Truck 8 alone made 20 rescues off of ladders.

Truck 8 and the other companies not only made these rescues, but searched aggressively in very dangerous conditions to clear as many apartments as possible as the fire advanced. Truck 8’s crew was nominated for the valor award as the leading representative of all of the crews who worked that night.

“Every person involved in the Castle West rescues and firefighting efforts served our fire department and community proudly,” said Navarro. "I wish they could all be recognized … for what they accomplished in extreme conditions. This award represents the entire department’s efforts."

For 38 years, the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor has recognized firefighters for expert training, loyalty to their profession and dedication to saving lives. The award is co-sponsored by Motorola Inc. and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.