Des Plaines Fire Lieutenant Michael Copeland and
Firefighter/Paramedic Robert Prieto recently received the State of Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Firefighter of the Year and Paramedic of the
Year Awards. The awards were granted at the Illinois VFW Convention on June 16, 2012 in Springfield. The two Des Plaines Firefighters were nominated by Park Ridge VFW Post #3579 after receiving regional recognition from that Post in March.  They were acknowledged for their efforts during a structural fire last December on Fargo Avenue when they entered a basement through a fire-compromised stairway to rescue a child and his grandmother. (pictured left to right) Des Plaines Fire Chief Alan Wax, Firefighter/Paramedic Robert Prieto, Lieutenant Michael Copeland, and VFW Post #3579 Safety Chairman Edward C. Collins pose for a photograph following the award presentation.