Press release - Chief Fire Officer commends members of the public and staff for heroic actions

Monday 7 December
12.00 hrs

Two members of the public have been awarded Chief Fire Officer’s Commendations after their actions saved the lives of others.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer / Chief Executive Kevin Pearson presented Jenny Ware from Clevedon and Rob Sullivan from Bristol with the accolade during the service’s Annual Awards Ceremony, which took place on Friday 4 December.

Mrs Ware was recognised after helping her neighbour escape from a fire at a house in Clevedon in May 2009. She dialed 999 and managed to help the neighbour out of the house, which was rapidly filling with smoke.

Mr Sullivan was praised after he rescued a one year old baby girl from a house fire in Southmead in September this year. He entered the smoke-filled property without a second thought and rescued the child from an upstairs bedroom.

Crew Manager Iain Campbell, who is a member of Blue Watch at Temple Fire Station in the centre of Bristol, also received a Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation after putting the safety of his colleagues first during an incident where a member of the public was threatening him with a firearm.

CFO/CE Kevin Pearson said: “The three recipients of this award all thoroughly deserve to be recognised for their selfless actions. Not only did they all play a part in saving the lives of others, they acted without a thought for their own personal safety and it has been a huge privilege for me to acknowledge their conduct.”

During the Annual Awards Ceremony members of staff who have worked for AF&RS for more than 20 years received their Long Service Good Conduct Medals and Local Government Service Certificates. Alongside this staff were also recognised for their outstanding achievements in a number of areas from community safety and charity support to performance and dedication to the service.

The Annual Awards Ceremony was made possible thanks to sponsors Bristol Cameras Limited, Lion Apparel, Imagine IT Support, Halls Auto Electrical Limited and Bristol Uniforms.

ENDS