The Kirkland Fire Department recently celebrated promotions and awards, honoring recent advancements to battalion chief, lieutenant and captain, while recognizing Firefighter of the Year, Officer of the Year, and two Medal of Valor award recipients.
The Medals of Valor went to firefighter Jesse Martindale and Lt. Tyrel Koistinen, who were singled out by their peers for their exceptional courage and perseverance while performing a perilous rescue during this year’s unusually heavy snowfall, a city press release states. On Feb. 14, crews were dispatched to a garbage truck that had slid off a steep and icy roadway, trapping the driver underneath. Martindale and Koistinen worked tirelessly for nearly an hour in freezing temperatures, tunneling through snow, mud and slushy water to free the severely injured driver from beneath the truck, according to the release.