Athens' first responders from the West Union fire were honored during the Hometown Heroes breakfast Tuesday morning
First responders to the West Union Street fire in November were honored by the Southeast Ohio branch of the American Red Cross Tuesday morning at the organization’s Heroes Breakfast.
The group, which included the Athens Police Department, the Ohio University Police Department, Athens County 911, Athens County EMS and all of the responding fire departments, received the Public Safety Award from the Southeast Ohio Red Cross.
At least six fire trucks were on the scene Nov. 16, according to previous Post reports, including ladder trucks from The Plains Volunteer Fire Company and Nelsonville Fire Department.
That effort also included roughly 60 firefighters from various departments including Rome Township, Richland Area and Waterloo Township, in addition to those from Athens, Nelsonville and The Plains.
“There were several (people honored), so we decided to put them together … because so many were involved we decided they needed to be equally honored,” said Jane Patton, the interim executive director of the Southeast Ohio Red Cross.
Jason Hager, a captain with Athens County EMS, was among the many representatives honored present at the breakfast.
“I wasn’t expecting to have to be up there,” Hager said. “The people who did the life saving and the fire and that, no one was thinking we’d be up there.”
Though he was glad to be recognized, Hager said it was all in a day’s work.
“We’re not in this to get awards,” Hager said. “But it’s nice when we get thanked.”
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Five firefighters and three police officers were injured and treated, according to previous Post reports.
EMS treated at least two of the firefighters, Hager said.
“It’s good for them to get the kudos they deserve,” Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl said. “I think it’s good that they got recognized this much.”
Despite the good representation at the breakfast, Wiehl said many who also contributed to efforts that day weren’t represented, including residents who provided food for firefighters and other responders as they worked to put out the fire.
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That, he said, was an example of how such a disaster could “bring a sense of community.”
“It was the best thing that would happen on the worst day of their lives,” Wiehl said.
He added the residents who started the GoFundMe account for the employees affected by the fire were also recognized at the breakfast. Pete Shooner, the associate director of communications for the Russ College of Engineering, and his wife Bailey Wagner started the fund, according to previous Post reporting.
“This was an event that really warranted them being honored,” Patton said.
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