VIDEO: Firefighters put their lives on the line in so many different ways. Whether it’s a fire, a hazmat situation, or a rescue operation, there are plenty of candidates for first responder of the year. But Augusta’s winner from the Exchange Club of South Augusta proves practice can really pay off in a big way.
“If it’s on fire, or it’s in the water, he’s one of the ones you want there,” said Augusta fire chief Frank Lanier.
Lt. John Cawley has always been drawn to firefighting.
"Growing up across the street from a volunteer department and just watching those guys and thinking it looked cool,” he said.
For the past 20 years, he’s tackled all kinds of challenges, often under intense conditions. In January, he and his teammates were called to the river. "A lot of things that we practice, we never get to do it,” said Cawley.