Kaua’i Fire Department Rescuers Receive the Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor
By Janelle Foskett

Captain Charles J. Metivier, Rescue Operator Kalani Abreu and Rescue Specialists Roy Constantino and Francisco Garcia of Kaua’i Fire Department’s Rescue 3 are the winners of the 2010 International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor, presented to them during this morning’s general session at Fire-Rescue International. The award, which is co-sponsored by Motorola, is the highest award bestowed by the IAFC.

Rescue 3 was honored for the resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance they demonstrated while rescuing three men on two different ridges—all while facing unfavorable weather conditions and unforgiving terrain.

Motorola Vice President Kelly Kerwin noted: “What makes their story even more remarkable is that Rescue 3 had worked together for just 5 days. This was their first mission, yet they performed like a seasoned crew, utilizing shrewd judgment, safe practices and quick-thinking to turn a deadly situation into a successful recovery.”

The Call
On Aug. 1, 2009, Rescue 3 was notified of an overdue ultralight flight. After combing the dense rainforest from an island helicopter for 45 minutes, Rescue 3 spotted debris scattered along a ridge into a deep ravine.

Amid blowing rain and thick fog, Rescue Specialists Constantino and Garcia were short-hauled into a stream bed below the crash site, but the 80-degree slope and 30-knot winds force them to be pulled up and lowered through the forest canopy above the crash.

The rescuers worked their way along the steep slope, eventually finding two survivors trapped under the wrecked plane. One victim had suffered broken legs and ribs. Constantino and Garcia secured him so he wouldn’t slide into the rushing waters below, bound his legs to form a splint, pulled him from the wreckage and placed him in a rescue seat and harness so he could be extricated to a temporary landing site where Rescue Operator Kalani Abreu was standing by to administer aid.

At that time, another dispatch came in for a hunter stranded on a ridge approximately 20 miles away. But after assessing the situation, Rescue 3 determined that they needed to concentrate on first extricating the second victim, the pilot, from the aircraft. The pilot had suffered a fractured ankle, broken left leg, head trauma, and was semi-conscious and combative.

“Constantino and Garcia stay by his side, splintering his legs together to alleviate the pain, and covering him with leaves to shelter him from the chill and rain,” Kerwin explained.

The helicopter returned repeatedly to extricate rescuers and victim, but deteriorating conditions hampered every attempt.

“Chief Westerman, Captain Metivier and Coast Guard personnel weigh the options,” Kerwin adds. “The Coast Guard pilot tells the Chief, ‘I’ve flown for 20 years and never had a situation as bad as this. If your unit goes down, I cannot get in there to rescue them.’ The fire department pilot concurs. They must wait until daybreak, even though this means leaving one severely injured patient with Constantino and Garcia in the ravine, and the hunter (injured but in stable condition) alone overnight.”

The decision was made to leave the rescuers and victim in the ravine until daybreak, and postpone any attempt to rescue the injured hunter.

The following morning, with blowing rain, low clouds and gusting winds, the helicopter picked up the injured hunter and flew him to a nearby hospital.

After the weather improved, Rescue 3 returned to the crash site. After adding a 100-lb. pigtail weight to the helicopter, they were finally able to extricate Constantino and the injured pilot in a litter with a long line. After dropping them off at the hospital, the helicopter returned to pick up Garcia.

It had been more than 6 hours of flying back and forth through blowing rain and gusting winds. “Throughout the stormy day and chilly night, in hazardous terrain and threatening conditions, Rescue 3 risked their own lives to save the lives of three badly injured men. Miraculously, everyone survived,” Kerwin said.

IAFC President Jeff Johnson noted that the award recognizes firefighters for their expert training, leadership, heroic actions and safe practices. “The award pays tribute to the proud tradition of the fire service and the unwavering spirit of service, courage and heroism of firefighters around the world,” he said.

To recognize their selfless acts of bravery and courage, Kaua’i Fire Department Fire Chief Robert Westerman placed the medals around each man’s neck. Westerman was then presented with a plaque that recognizes his department’s valiant efforts in these rescues.

Janelle Foskett is the managing editor of FireRescue magazine.

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