Firefighter Nation
Reported by Neal Simpson/Brookline Patch
Reprinted with Permission

The Brookline Patch reports that three Brookline firefighters are to receive national recognition for their work at a 2008 structure fire.


Three current and former Brookline firefighters are in Washington, D.C. today to accept national Medals of Valor for pulling a fellow firefighter from a burning house in 2008.

Lieutenant Paul R. Pender, Firefighter Frederick C. Johnston and Acting Lieutenant Gerald J. Murphy, now retired, were set to receive the honors from Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder in a ceremony on the White House grounds today. Awarded by the Justice Department, the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor is the highest national award for valor bestowed on public safety workers.

The incident sparking the recognition began in a fire in a multi-family house in April of 2008. As initial crews battled the fire, a propane tank on a second floor deck exploded causing portions of the second floor to explode. Firefighters were knocked down the stairs, other trapped under debris. Firefighter Stephen Nelson was trapped, his facepiece knocked off by the falling debris, unable to move.

Firefighter Murphy, knocked down in the blast, made his way back up the stairs to where the others were trapped. Firefighter Johnston and Lieutenant Pender made their way inside and linked up with Murphy, who was using a hoseline, holding off the fire from the location of the trapped firefighters.

With Murphy's guidance, Pender and Johnston located Firefighter Nelson and removed him from the fire building. A total of eight firefighters were injured fighting the fire.


Read more of the Brookline Patch and the medal of valor ceremony here.