August 29, 2016 — Lt. Brian J. Colleluori, FDNY Ladder Co. 174, has been selected to receive the top 2015Firehouse Magazine Michael O. McNamee Award of Valor. Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach will present the award to Lt. Colleluori during the Oct. 20 opening ceremonies of Firehouse Expo in Nashville.
Colleluori is recognized for his actions during a structure fire in Brooklyn on Feb. 1, 2015. Faced with heat and heavy black smoke under pressure, Lt. Colleluori entered the building to conduct a search for life. Twenty-five feet into the structure, he came upon an unconscious 65-year-old man and was able to help evacuate the victim. He then continued his search and came across an unconscious 49-year-old woman. With fire above his head, Lt. Colleluori began dragging the victim toward the exit. Conditions rapidly deteriorated and a flashover occurred. With fire 2 feet off 
the floor, Lt. Colleluori was pinned down by flames. He attempted to shield the victim from the heat by lying on top of her. Other crewmembers were able to improve fire conditions in the room so that Lt. Colleluori could drag the victim toward an exit.
The nomination from the FDNY reads, in part, “Lt. Colleluori put himself at great personal risk. He operated alone in extremely heavy fire conditions without the protection of a hoseline, and his fortitude in withstanding the most severe heat afforded [the victim] a chance to survive. The bravery and perseverance displayed by Lt. Colleluori exemplify the FDNY’s highest traditions of dedication and service.”
Sendelbach expressed his appreciation for Lt. Colleluori’s bravery and service to the citizens of New York: “It’s an honor to recognize Lt. Colleluori with the Michael O. McNamee Award of Valor. His actions on Feb. 1, 2015, represent the selfless courage of an American firefighter, and his humility epitomizes the mark of a true public servant.”
Lt. Colleluori receives a $3,000 cash award, a medal provided by Blackinton, as well as airfare, accommodations and registration to Firehouse Expo in Nashville. During the opening ceremony, Lt. Colleluori will be presented with a custom bronze trumpet provided by Liberty Art Works.
Lt. John Ward of Kootenai County Fire & Rescue in Rathdrum, WA, received second place, and Firefighter
Alex Wallbrett of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department received third place. Ten additional fire personnel—from the FDNY; Van Buren, MI, Fire Department; New Orleans Fire Department; Spokane, WA, Fire Department; Blue Ridge Fire District in Rimrock, AZ; Baltimore Fire Department; and North Port, FL, Fire Rescue—complete this year’s top tier of awards. Twenty-one others are recognized as $100 winners, and five companies received unit citation recognitions. To read more about the Valor Award honorees, visitfirehouse.com/valor-awards.
Firehouse would like to express its deep appreciation for the judges who reviewed the nominations for this year’s program: Fire Chief Paul Bourgeois of the Superstition Fire & Medical District, AZ; Deputy Chief William Goldfeder of the Loveland-Symmes, OH, Fire Department; Assistant Chief Brian Schaeffer of the Spokane, WA, Fire Department; and Deputy Chief John B. Tippett, Jr. of the Charleston, SC, Fire Department.
Firehouse would also like to thank the 2015 Valor Awards Program corporate sponsors: Aladtec, Alert-All, Blackinton, CMC Rescue, Continental Girbau, eDispatches.com, Fire Station Outfitters, Fol-Da-Tank, IMS Alliance/Legend Data Systems, Liberty Art Works, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, Paratech, Pelican Products, Phenix Technologies, TCA Architecture Planning, and Waterway. Their support and generosity help us honor America’s Bravest.
About the Michael O. McNamee Award of Valor
The Firehouse Magazine Michael O. McNamee Award of Valor is part of Firehouse’s larger awards program, the Firehouse Valor & Community Service Awards, the largest awards program of its kind in the fire service. The Michael O. McNamee Award of Valor, formerly known as the Heroism Award, was renamed as part of a larger mission to change firefighters’ perspectives about what it means to be brave in the face of danger. Specifically, Sendelbach chose to name the award after Worcester, MA, Fire Department District Chief (ret.) Mike McNamee because of the courage he displayed at the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse Fire in December 1999, when he made the bold decision to stop additional Worcester firefighters from entering the building when there were already six lost inside. To have your department’s acts of valor or community service considered for an award, please e-mail valor@firehouse.com
No comments yet.