Firefighters honor their own

Toledo Fire Chief Michael Wolever waits with a wreath to be placed at the Firefighters Memorial in Chub DeWolfe Park by retired Deputy Chief Richard Hunt, assisted by his son Robert and fire Lt. Richard Knight, left. The elder Mr. Hunt, 92, is the department s second-oldest retiree. Yesterday s ceremony, marking the 48th anniversary of the Anthony Wayne Trail fire, was preceded by an awards ceremony.

The Blade/Dave Zapotosky
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Toledo firefighters paused yesterday at the Toledo Firefighters Memorial in downtown Toledo to remember four firemen who were killed June 10, 1961, at the Anthony Wayne Trail fire.

At least 10 other firemen were injured when a gasoline tanker truck overturned and burst into flames at what is now the foot of the Trail exit ramp to the Collingwood Boulevard extension.

Earlier in the day, Fire Chief Michael Wolever presented awards to 11 members of the department who demonstrated exemplary service in the performance of their duties as firefighter and/or paramedic. A firefighter s wife also was honored for rescuing him.

Certificates of special recommendation for their work at Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, went to:

Toledo Fire Chief Michael Wolever waits with a wreath to be placed at the Firefighters Memorial in Chub DeWolfe Park by retired Deputy Chief Richard Hunt, assisted by his son Robert and fire Lt. Richard Knight, left. The elder Mr. Hunt, 92, is the department s second-oldest retiree. Yesterday s ceremony, marking the 48th anniversary of the Anthony Wayne Trail fire, was preceded by an awards ceremony.

•Deputy Chief Phillip Cervantes.

•Lt. Richard Syroka.

•Capt. Gerald Takats.

•Firefighter David Meegan.

•Firefighter Mark Moffett.

Firefighter Robert Solis was given the same award for preventing a man from jumping from the Martin Luther King Bridge.

Lifesaving awards went to:

•James Boothby, who rescued a woman he saw fall from a marina dock, making several underwater sweeps before finding her.

•Luke Harman and Robert Walters, who rescued a mother and her 5-year-old child from a fire.

•Phillip Segur, for saving a man from a fire despite the loss of his self-contained breathing apparatus.

•Lauren Futrell, who was vacationing in Florida where she revived a swimmer who otherwise would have died.

•Tatjania Sakowski, a civilian, whose medical intervention saved the life of her husband, fire Lt. Dennis Sakowski.