Health & Fitness
Des Plaines Police Award Kenneth Krozel the Citizen Award of Valor
The Des Plaines Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to the Mobil Gas Station, 800 W. Oakton Street, for an explosion/ structure fire, as reported by an individual passing by.
Des Plaines Police Chief William Kushner awarded Kenneth Krozel with a Citizen
Award of Valor at the Monday, March 4, 2013 City Council Meeting held at Des
Plaines City Hall, 1420 Miner Street. At 7:36 AM, Friday, January 18, 2013, the Des Plaines Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to the Mobil Gas Station, 800 W. Oakton Street, for an explosion/ structure fire, as reported by an individual passing by. Initial reports indicated a gas pump had exploded and a person was injured in the fire. At the time of the fire, Kenneth Krozel was pumping gas into his vehicle when he observed a fire ball coming from the next pump, causing the ground and the owner’s vehicle to start on fire. He ran over to the front entrance of the gas station, grabbed the outdoor tire extinguisher, and extinguished the fire at the pump. When the officers arrived on the scene they spoke to Mr. Krozel who related no one was injured and he had put out the fire. Upon notification regarding the fire at the gas pump, management initiated an emergency shut off of all the gas pumps. The consensus of the public safety personnel on the scene and the Mobil Gas Station management is that Kenneth Krozel’s quick thinking and immediate action prevented a potentially catastrophic gas pump explosion and/or structure fire. According to Police Chief Kushner
“Mr. Krozel’s heroic actions potentially saved a vehicle owner’s life and the
lives of many other who may have been affected had the fire not been contained
prior to reaching the volatile gasoline tanks. Mr. Krozel’s actions went above
and beyond those of a concerned citizen and demonstrated consideration and
caring for the well-being of a fellow human.”
