The Pella Fire Department hosted an awards event on Thursday to recognize firefighters, local EMS personnel, deputies, and police communicators related to a rescue that required extrication.

Pella Fire Chief Randy Bogaard says several individuals were honored with the Star Award from AMKUS Rescue Systems. The organization develops and manufactures hydraulic and battery-powered rescue tools for fire departments and ambulances, and the Pella Fire Department was chosen out of a seven-state region and most of Canada.

Representatives from Pella Community Ambulance, the Pella Police Department 911 Center, and Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office were honored for their response from a multiple-vehicle crash that occurred in September that ultimately trapped a driver and required recently-purchased equipment to be used for the rescue.

Bogaard says 13 firefighters were on-scene at the incident, including Austin Vander Linden, Ron Paxton, Nathan Ward, Nick Colgan, Brad Ter Louw, Mac Sarver, Logan Van Brogen, Jeremy Scott, and Chad Klein. Lt. Lance Van Zee, Captain Jeff Gritters, and Assistant Chief Jason Schroeder were also on scene, as were several EMS responders from Pella Community Ambulance.

Additionally, the chief awarded challenge coins to those who also assisted with the training of the equipment and those who responded, including TJ Frank with Dinges Fire Company.

Hear more about the award on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.