COLUMBUS, Ohio - Four firefighters from the Mahoning and Trumbull counties will be among 22 First Responders honored next month by the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal and the Ohio Department of Public Safety Division of EMS.

The firefighters will be recognized at the 44th annual Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame & Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 14.

Three firefighters from the Youngstown Fire Department in Mahoning County – Scott Thomas, Tommy Gibbs, and Joseph Koziel – will receive the Fire Service Valor Award. They are being honored for their heroic rescue efforts following an explosion at the 14-story Realty Tower building in downtown Youngstown in May 2024. Amid significant destruction, the three firefighters risked their lives to save others.

Travis Birch of the Fowler Fire Department in Trumbull County will receive the Fire Service Valor Award for his actions in July 2024. Birch, who was at home at the time, overheard an emergency call about a house fire just two miles away in Vienna Township. Without protective gear, he rushed to the scene, broke through a glass door, and rescued an injured woman from the burning home.

The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal highlighted that the actions of Birch, Thomas, Gibbs, and Koziel reflect the bravery, commitment, and sacrifice made daily by the approximately 50,000 men and women in Ohio’s fire service. The annual awards ceremony recognizes these individuals for their dedication to protecting and serving communities across the state.