Deputies, firefighters honored for lifesaving role in Mount Si Court apartment fire

Published 5:07 pm Tuesday, January 24, 2012

North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing, pictured at center, presented the city’s Meritorious Service Award Jan. 17 to the King County Sheriff’s officers and firefighters who were first on the scene of the Nov. 24 fire that destroyed or damaged 15 units in the Mount Si Court Apartments.

Receiving the award, from left, were Deputy Eric Andersen, Bob Venera of Eastside Fire and Rescue, Master Police Officer Jeff Flohr, and Deputy Don Dougherty.

“We had the largest fire, in my memory, in the city of North Bend,” Mayor Hearing said, in presenting the awards. “The damage could have been much worse, much worse if not for the quick actions of fire and police service personnel.”

Flohr was the first to notice the fire and call the fire department. He and deputies then started alerting the building resident of the danger. Venera was off-duty and in street clothes.

Each man stepped in to help without concern for his personal safety, Mayor Hearing said, and, through their actions, they saved lives.