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Log inLegion honors Brunswick firefighter
Legion honors Brunswick firefighter
by Outspoken on Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:13 am
Legion honors Brunswick firefighter
Steve Emmons of Topsham is named the Maine American Legion's Firefighter of the Year.
By DENNIS HOEY
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
BRUNSWICK — Steve Emmons was watching TV when his fire pager went off one day in November, notifying him that there had been a car crash just down the street from his home on Route 196 in Topsham.
What he did next is one of the reasons the state American Legion post honored him with its Firefighter of the Year award.
After getting the page, Emmons, a full-time Brunswick firefighter and a volunteer Topsham firefighter, rushed out the door and drove about a mile to the scene of what turned out to be a gruesome car crash.
A 2003 Chevy Impala had gone off Route 196, striking a tree. The car had caught fire with a person trapped inside.
Emmons was wearing a fire coat, a helmet and gloves. He didn't have the gear that helps firefighters breathe, but that didn't keep him from approaching the car.
Emmons and another firefighter, Michael Robitaille from Lisbon's department, tried unsuccessfully to open a car door.
As small explosions burst around them, the men tried using a fire extinguisher, but it had little effect on the flames engulfing the car. A larger explosion rocked the two backward and spewed burning metal chunks all over their clothing. Neither firefighter was injured or burned.
"At that point, there was not a whole lot we could do," Emmons said during a recent interview at the Cook's Corner fire station in Brunswick.
Despite their efforts, Corey Robert Stutheit, 19, of Topsham died in the crash.
Emmons is reluctant to talk about the tragedy, out of respect for the victim's family.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=196933&ac=PHnws
John Patriquin/Staff Photographer
Steve Emmons of Topsham is named the Maine American Legion's Firefighter of the Year.
By DENNIS HOEY
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
BRUNSWICK — Steve Emmons was watching TV when his fire pager went off one day in November, notifying him that there had been a car crash just down the street from his home on Route 196 in Topsham.
What he did next is one of the reasons the state American Legion post honored him with its Firefighter of the Year award.
After getting the page, Emmons, a full-time Brunswick firefighter and a volunteer Topsham firefighter, rushed out the door and drove about a mile to the scene of what turned out to be a gruesome car crash.
A 2003 Chevy Impala had gone off Route 196, striking a tree. The car had caught fire with a person trapped inside.
Emmons was wearing a fire coat, a helmet and gloves. He didn't have the gear that helps firefighters breathe, but that didn't keep him from approaching the car.
Emmons and another firefighter, Michael Robitaille from Lisbon's department, tried unsuccessfully to open a car door.
As small explosions burst around them, the men tried using a fire extinguisher, but it had little effect on the flames engulfing the car. A larger explosion rocked the two backward and spewed burning metal chunks all over their clothing. Neither firefighter was injured or burned.
"At that point, there was not a whole lot we could do," Emmons said during a recent interview at the Cook's Corner fire station in Brunswick.
Despite their efforts, Corey Robert Stutheit, 19, of Topsham died in the crash.
Emmons is reluctant to talk about the tragedy, out of respect for the victim's family.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=196933&ac=PHnws
John Patriquin/Staff Photographer
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
