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Airman receives Honolulu Fire Department's highest honor

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Aaron Oelrich
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam --  On May 5, 2016, a 735th Air Mobility Squadron Airman, was awarded Honolulu Fire Department's highest honor.

Staff Sgt. Brett Kiser received the Medal of Valor for his selfless act of bravery when he rescued his neighbors from their burning apartment.

The Medal of Valor is given to individuals who have acted with extreme heroism without regard to personal safety.

Mr. Kirk Caldwell, mayor of Honolulu, along with the Honolulu Fire Department chiefs officiated the Honolulu Fire Department Commendation Ceremony, in which seven members of the local community were recognized for acts of heroism.

"You don't know if you are a hero until you are tested," said Caldwell. "But we know one thing, today the people here are true heroes of Hawaii."

Kiser was presented The Honolulu Fire Departments Medal of Valor for his actions on New Year 's Eve 2015. He was scheduled to work on New Year's Day, so his plans for New Year's Eve involved study for his upcoming promotion test.

While taking a break from studying to talk to his wife, who is stationed at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, he began to smell smoke in his apartment. Kiser went out to his balcony to investigate.

"I saw black smoke billowing out of an apartment two floors below me," Kiser said. "It was a serious moment and I knew smoothing had to be done. I ran down stairs, pulled the fire alarm, and then ran back up to the unit and knocked on the door. I could see smoke coming from the seams of the door. I knew I had to get in there."

Without hesitation, Kiser grabbed a fire extinguisher from the hall and kicked in the door. Smoke immediately engulfed him.

"I had to get low because the smoke was extremely thick," Kiser said. "I was coughing and could not see. I went through the unit until I discovered an unconscious man lying on the bed."

Kiser dropped the fire extinguisher, pulled the man from the building and laid him down in the breeze way. with the knowledge he gained as a Self Aid and Buddy Care instructor, he began to assess the man's condition. After a few seconds the man began to respond to Kiser's questions.

Kiser then focused his attention on the fire still burning in the apartment.

"I knew the job was not done yet," said Kiser. "There was still something burning in the unit. I knew there were at least a couple dozen other residents lived in the complex. I wanted to take care of the situation and eliminate the hazard so everyone was safe."

Kiser grabbed a fire extinguisher and went back into the apartment. Smoke filled his lungs and burned his eyes as he searched for the source of the fire.

"I entered the apartment a few more times to try and put out the fire," said Kiser. "The smoke was so thick that I couldn't stay in the apartment very long. I was getting dizzy, coughing and having a hard time seeing. I found the source of the fire in the oven and extinguished it."

After extinguishing the fire, Kiser escorted the victim and the rest of the residents down to the parking lot of the complex, away from any potential danger.

Red lights bounced off the building walls and sirens overpowered the chatter of the residents as they watched the first responders arrive. Larry Moore, the fire captain of Second Platoon Makiki fire station's Engine Three, responded to the fire. Once on the scene, Moore began to investigate the cause the fire.

"I didn't know that Mr. Kiser was the one who put the fire out," said Moore. "As I was conducting my investigation, the residents started to point Mr. Kiser out as the individual that removed the occupant and put out the fire."

Moore stated this was not a common occurrence and Mr. Kiser went above and beyond to help the residents of the apartment complex.

"It was great that he got the occupant out," said Moore. "We don't recommend people going back into a building that is filled with smoke. But a lot of really bad fires start off with stove fires. So I am sure he prevented that fire from becoming a bigger event."

Moore felt Kiser's efforts where truly to help people in a dangerous situation and wanted to honor his actions by summiting him to receive The Honolulu Fire Departments Medal of Valor.

"I feel honored that I was selected," said Kiser. "I was not expecting to receive anything, it is truly an honor."