Six civilians and a firefighter-paramedic from the Washington Fire Department were honored Monday for their life-saving actions during two major fires late last month in Washington.
The fires were at the Chapters assisted living facility on Newcastle Road on May 30, and about 11 hours later the next day at apartments on School Street.
There were no fatalities at either site. Three apartment residents were hospitalized because of injuries sustained escaping from the building.
The civilians honored during the Washington City Council meeting — Logan Makiney, Kelsey Tisdale, Claire Uftring, Clayton Kuhlman, Brandon Hardt and Karl Simmons — each were presented a certificate recognizing their "heroic actions" by Mayor Lilija Stevens on behalf of the city. They also received a lifesaving challenge coin from Washington Fire Chief Tyler Gee.
"This exemplifies what Washington is," said Gee. "In a time of need, all of our residents step up. This is a perfect example of that."
Stevens said the honorees' courage and selflessness should not go unrecognized.
According to the city's "heroic actions" recognitions:
Makiney, a recent Washington Community High School graduate; Tisdale, a recent Morton High School graduate; and Uftring, a Washington graduate attending the University of Missouri, saw flames coming from Chapters while traveling on Newcastle and called 911.
Makiney tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, then all three entered the burning building and went door-to-door, alerting sleeping residents and helping them exit before firefighters told the rescuers it was too dangerous to stay in the building.
About 40 Chapters residents were safely evacuated and there were no reported injuries.
Kuhlman brought a wooden ladder to the scene of the apartment fire. Residents told first responders "the ladder made all the difference" and "people are alive because of that old wooden thing."
Washington Fire Department firefighter-paramedic Daniel Grothe at one point climbed the ladder, broke through a window, and carefully assisted a resident to safety.
Hardt's shouts woke up apartment resident Suzie Edens. She got out of the building through a window, the only available exit for her. Hardt broke Edens' fall from the window and carried her to safety.
Simmons and his family were traveling to church when they noticed smoke visible from several miles away.
After the family arrived at the fire scene and saw that first responders had not yet arrived, Simmons offered assistance.
Certified nursing assistants from Chapters and Washington Senior Living who helped during the fire and the aftermath also were honored Monday by the city during national Certified Nursing Assistants Week.
It's been a busy time for Washington's volunteer fire department.
"We've been in the news a lot lately," Gee said. "We actually responded to five significant structure fires in 35 days. The fires caused an estimated $2.2-$2.5 million in property damages."
3 mayors, 10 administrators ...
Joanie Baxter, who was employed by Washington for more than 31 years as an accountant, controller and ultimately finance director, was honored Monday with a proclamation from the city, two weeks ahead of her June 30 retirement.
Baxter served under three mayors and 10 city administrators and worked with 332 city employees during her more than three-decade tenure.
She attended more than 1,200 city meetings and played a major role in the preparation and administration of annual budgets totaling more than $650 million.
Baxter provided "continuity, institutional knowledge, and [an] unwavering commitment through decades of change and progress," according to the proclamation, which was presented to her by Jon Oliphant, the city's economic and development director, and Stevens.
Wellness check program
The Washington Police Department is considering the implementation of an "RU Okay?" program in the city, community resource officer Dramane Taylor wrote in the department's monthly report to the council.
The free program would offer a daily wellness check for seniors, individuals who live alone and vulnerable community members through a scheduled automated phone call, Taylor wrote.
If the call isn't answered and designated contacts can't be reached, a welfare check can be initiated.
