The Oregon Fire Chiefs Association (OFCA) notified Seaside Fire Chief Joey Daniels and Division Chief David Rankin earlier this week that Rankin has been selected to receive a Medal of Honor from the OFCA for his contributions to Oregon Fire Service at a special ceremony later this year.
Rankin, a full-time firefighter and the Division Chief of Operations with Seaside Fire & Rescue since October 2012, will be recognized and honored specifically for his heroic water rescue on the afternoon of December 30, 2019. At approximately 4:24 p.m. that day, Seaside Fire was dispatched to a report of a person pulled out into the ocean from the Necanicum Estuary and beach area.
Prepping for a late Christmas dinner with his family due to other work obligations for his wife on Christmas Day, Rankin heard the call from home and dispatched immediately to assist with the rescue. Upon arrival on the scene, he consulted with the incident commander as they searched the ocean for the victim.