Firefighters rarely get the recognition they deserve, but on Aug. 23, the city of Wichita, Kansas, recognized some of its first responders for their efforts. At the fifth annual Medal's Day ceremony, Lt. Rob Kanaga was given a medal of valor and named Firefighter of the Year. Kanaga was awarded for the bravery he displayed during a March fire. While his team was working on putting out the flames, Kanaga discovered there was one person left inside the building. He went into the flames to save the person's life.
Kanaga was very humble upon receiving the award.
"I was very excited after I was nominated [for Firefighter of the Year]," he told KWCH News. "It's a very prestigious award. Obviously when I was on scene, I wasn't the only one acting that day. To facilitate that rescue, there were around 50 other people on scene at the time that allowed me to make that rescue."
Kanaga's partner, Seth Goodin, was one of those 50 people. Goodin was also among those who received honors. Over 40 more firefighters were honored for their service to the community, their day-to-day bravery and their dedication to protecting the lives of civilians in Kansas.