City of Pitt Meadows honoured two of its fire chiefs after their lifesaving efforts during a motor vehicle fire incident last month.
On Feb. 4, Pitt Meadows fire chief Mike Larsson and paid-on-call assistant chief Dave Saddler responded to a commercial structure fire at the Esso station off the Pitt River bridge. A pickup truck had left the highway and crashed at the fuel pumps at a high speed. The truck, gas pumps and the station’s canopy were all on fire with a gas pump sheared off, and the truck heavily damaged and filled with smoke.
READ MORE: Pitt Meadows fire responds after vehicle crashes into Esso pump
The two quickly realized that the driver of the vehicle was trapped and suffering from smoke inhalation. They then broke the window and pulled out the man along with his dog. Just 90-seconds after the two pulled out the man and his dog, the vehicle was completely engulfed in fire.
During the council meeting on March 8, the city council presented the two with Outstanding Service Awards in recognition of their lifesaving efforts during the incident.
Mayor Bill Dingwall said that the entire council was very proud of the two men and the award was centred around bravery and courage.
“We commend our brave and dedicated fire chiefs for their swift action in responding to this incident and risking their own safety to rescue the injured driver and their dog from the burning vehicle. For their unwavering courage, commitment and service to our community, Pitt Meadows is proud and truly grateful,” he said.
Fire chief Larsson and assistant chief Saddler have a long history of serving the community with over 55 years of combined service.
Chief Larsson began his fire career in Pitt Meadows as a paid-on-call volunteer firefighter in 2003, and has since served as a paid-on-call Captain, career Fire Safety Technician, and Assistant Chief. He was appointed to the position of Pitt Meadows Fire Chief in March of 2019.
Assistant Chief Dave Saddler joined the Pitt Meadows Fire Department as a volunteer in 1985 and has devoted his life to helping others – responding to emergency calls all hours of the day and night. He was also a 2020 Community Service Award recipient.
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