Several South King Fire and Rescue firefighters were honored this week for saving a mother from a burning Auburn townhome last January.

Meritorious Unit Citations were awarded to Capt. Anthony John, Acting Lt. Dean Bastin, Acting Lt. Craig Ellenbolt, driver engineer Travis McKenney, firefighter Adam Joyner, firefighter Tim Gurule, firefighter Sal Samoza, and firefighter Courtney Cullison on Monday, April 26.

At about 11:41 p.m. Jan. 20, crews were dispatched the 30100 block of 50th Lane South in Auburn, according to Capt. Brad Chaney of SKFR. While responding, crews learned a mother and her baby were trapped inside the home.

Engine 365, staffed by Captain Anthony John, firefighter Adam Joyner, and firefighter Tim Gurule, arrived on scene to find a fully-involved garage fire with heavy, dark smoke coming from the rest of the residence.

Engine 365 began to make an aggressive attack to prevent the fire from spreading into the rest of the home, Chaney said, essentially sheltering the mother and her baby from the fire.

Ladder 364 arrived next on scene, staffed by Acting Lieutenant Dean Bastin, driver engineer Travis McKenney, and firefighter Sal Samoza.

While performing a 360-degree view of the home, Lt. Bastin found the mother hanging out of the second-story window, screaming she was going to jump as dark smoke plumed from the window around her. The baby had already been lowered to an individual below the window.

Driver engineer McKenney placed an extension ladder for rescue on the back side of the building where the mother was.

Aid 364, staffed by Acting Lieutenant Craig Ellenbolt and firefighter Courtney Cullison, arrived while the ladder was being thrown for rescue. Lt. Ellenbolt climbed the ladder and rescued the mother from the burning home at about 11:53 p.m.

Both the mother and the baby were transported to a local hospital for minor injuries.

“South King Fire and Rescue would like to commend the crews for their actions, outstanding teamwork, and their life-saving efforts,” Chaney said. “Their actions exemplify what make the American Fire Service great today. Our community is a safer place because of firefighters like these.”

To watch the ceremony, visit the South King Fire and Rescue YouTube channel.

(L-R) Assistant Chief Rick Chaney, Capt. Anthony John and firefighter Adam Joyner. Photo courtesy of South King Fire

(L-R) Assistant Chief Rick Chaney and firefighter Sal Somoza. Photo courtesy of South King Fire and Rescue (L-R) Assistant Chief Rick Chaney and firefighter Sal Somoza. Photo courtesy of South King Fire and Rescue