Fire Captain

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

5/31/2007

Special Act Award (Gold)

On May 31, 2007, Fire Captain Wesley D. Grim responded to a fire at a single family home in the community of Exeter. He found the home was fully engulfed with heavy smoke, and flames were coming out of the windows and vents of the structure. Captain Grim was told by Exeter Police Department personnel that an infant was trapped in the back bedroom of the home. While several attempts had been made to rescue the infant, the intense heat and smoke made them turn back. Captain Grim decided he would make one last attempt to rescue the trapped infant. He geared up with his Personal Protective Equipment and entered through the bedroom window. He searched through the smoke filled room and found the infant on a bed in the far corner of the room. Captain Grim re-traced his way back to the window and handed the infant to an Exeter Police Officer who immediately took the infant to a paramedic at the scene. Unfortunately, even with the valiant effort of Captain Grim and the Exeter Police Department, the infant did not survive.