Spokane Fire Recognizes Staff for Valor
The Spokane Fire Department is publicly recognizing acts of courage and service by its members through its Medal of Valor awards. The program highlights both operational excellence and a commitment to department values.
The Medal of Valor, the highest honor in the fire service, is reserved for acts of exceptional courage and often involves great personal risk to save a life. These awards are not annual; they are specifically given in response to incidents where firefighters operate far above the normal call of duty. At an October 2025 ceremony, Firefighter Jeff Hansen received the Medal of Valor for rescuing a trapped victim from a house fire under extreme heat and smoke. The same fire on May 8, 2025, also led to a Special Unit Citation for the coordinated efforts of Engine 11 and Truck 14, whose aggressive attack enabled the successful rescue. Firefighter Nick Ulowetz was also awarded the Medal of Valor for his selfless actions during a technical rope rescue involving two children trapped on a collapsing cliffside. In a separate ceremony in September 2024, Firefighters Brennan Cooke and Clifford York received the Medal of Valor for their actions at a fatal house fire on April 20, 2024. Crews arrived within four minutes to 1717 N. Howard Street as the fire, which started on the porch from an electrical malfunction, rapidly spread to the second floor. Firefighters entered the burning second story to pull four family members from the home. Tragically, the entire family, including two children aged 7 and 2, succumbed to their injuries from the blaze. The home was found to have no functional smoke alarms. The Spokane Fire Department has recently established a new tradition of holding formal awards ceremonies to recognize these acts of bravery and allow families to understand the life-threatening situations firefighters face. The awards are peer-nominated and undergo an evaluation by an internal committee.
