Two local first responders were honored at Monday’s Niles Township board meeting.
Niles Township Firefighter Paul Rainwater and City of Niles paramedic Bill McAllister received departmental distinguished service awards for their heroic efforts during the major gas leak that occurred at the Buckeye Pipe Line or “Tank Town” on South Third Street in Niles Township last August.
Rainwater and McAllister responded quickly to the scene where thousands of gallons of gas had spilled. They were able to contain the spill, helping to avoid what Niles Township Fire Chief Gary Brovold said “had the potential to be a very bad day.”
Brovold and Niles City Fire Chief Larry Lamb presented the awards.
“There are times in our career where we just cringe. It was a tough decision to send them into a big pool of gasoline,” Lamb said. “But they got the job done.”