Within minutes of being alerted to a person in distress on the Boone River on a late August afternoon, Webster City Fire Department captains Brandon Hayes and Jeromy Estlund were in a boat heading to a woman clinging to a branch in the water. Soon, Hayes pulled her into the boat and Estlund was steering them to shore. The victim was rescued nine minutes after firefighters were dispatched to the river on Aug. 29. For their quick work that day, Hayes and Estlund were presented the Lifesaving Commendation Award Monday night by Fire Chief Chuck Stansfield and Mayor John Hawkins. ”Because of the quick professional actions of the department, and more specifically Capt. Hayes and Capt. Estlund, the victim was rescued,” Stansfield said.