DNAinfo.com published an article about Mauricio Rodriguez, a firefighter who recently received the 2014 Carter Harrison Award for his heroic actions during a fire in Englewood last January. Despite the recognition, Rodriguez remains humble, attributing the rescue of three individuals to the entire team at Engine Co. 116.
Just hours after receiving the award at City Hall on Tuesday, Rodriguez, a veteran firefighter with 28 years of experience, struggled to put into words the magnitude of what he did. Instead of focusing on himself, he emphasized the importance of teamwork and shared the credit with his colleagues.
"It’s something I have trouble wrapping my head around because we always teach that every person on the scene has a role and no one is less important than another," he said. "If everyone does their job, it all comes together."
The incident occurred on January 18th when Rodriguez and his crew were returning from refueling their truck when they were called to a fire in a two-story building located just four blocks from their station on South Marshfield Avenue.
As they arrived, Rodriguez heard faint sounds of someone calling for help. He initially thought it was another firefighter, but after hearing a muffled cough, he went back to investigate. That's when he found two unconscious men and a third man who was semi-conscious.
Despite the intense heat and thick smoke, Rodriguez managed to pull out the first victim before returning into the burning building to save the others. According to officials, he did so under zero visibility conditions.
"As I was bringing them out, two members of Squad Five came up the back stairs and helped get the victims out," he recalled. "Everyone there that day would have done the same thing, from the chief down to the newest member."
Rodriguez described the moment as automatic, saying he didn’t think much about what was happening—he just acted. He also mentioned that while it felt good, he doesn’t dwell on individual acts of heroism, as he sees many firefighters doing similar things every day.
A father of three from the Northwest Side, Rodriguez hasn’t spoken much about the incident with his children, and he says it hasn’t changed how they see him. "It's just dad. I'm dad," he said with a smile.
His humility and dedication reflect the kind of character that makes firefighters true heroes—ones who don’t seek recognition, but still make a difference when it matters most.
Thanks Dan
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