MAPLEWOOD, Mo. - Four firefighters from a St. Louis suburb now have one the nation's highest honors for their bravery during a 2008 fire and shooting that killed a colleague.
KSDK-TV reports that Maplewood firefighters Lt. William Appel, Timothy Wisely, Andrew Neff and Michael Chellis were at the White House on Wednesday to receive the United States Department of Justice Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor.
The firefighters were among the first on the scene of a July 2008 case in which a Maplewood man set his home ablaze and opened fire at the emergency responders. Firefighter Ryan Hummert was killed.
The awards were presented by Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder.