RAPID CITY, S.D. — Three Rapid City Fire Department members, Firefighter Kyle Steen, Firefighter Nick Jasnoch, and Firefighter Morgan Helton, were recently honored with the Ben Franklin Award for Valor at the Fire-Rescue International conference in Orlando, Florida.
The national award, presented by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, recognizes firefighters who display expert training, professional service, and dedication to duty that saves a human life. The three firefighters were recognized for their actions on April 9, 2024. While serving on Medic 1, they responded to a vehicle that had crashed into the second and third floors of a three-story apartment building, rupturing the main gas line.
Recognizing the immediate danger to the occupants, the crew quickly extricated a critically injured female patient and performed life-saving measures. The patient is believed to still be alive. Two other occupants in the vehicle did not survive the incident.
The Rapid City Fire Department stated that the event is a powerful example of the mission and spirit of the fire service. The department also acknowledged the many other crews who responded that night, all of whom faced the uncertainty of the situation with strength and commitment. The department expressed its pride in having Steen, Jasnoch, and Helton represent the Rapid City Fire Department.