Page 120 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2019

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI
saving lives
D’IBERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
THE D’IBERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT is located at 11288 Lamey Bridge Road. Capt. Justin Thibodeaux, Capt. Darren Peterson, re ghter Jack Williams, re ghter Chris Seymour, re ghter Jake Husley and re ghter Steven Ramsey were recognized by the D’Iberville Fire Department for saving the lives of three teens by rescuing them from a ooded area in 2018.
A key component in D’Iberville’s Public Safety mission is the D’Iberville Fire Department, which has 34 firefighters. The fire department is located in a recently-completed building
at 11288 Lamey Bridge Road. D’Iberville Fire Chief Gerald Smith has been Chief for 18 years and has served as a firefighter since 1988.
Smith said the Coast had received several inches of rain on Monday April, 16, 2018. The rain came quickly, causing some flooding in low-lying areas. In fact, the flooding came on so quickly that three people had to be evacuated from the area near Posey Bridge Road. But then, the station received a call that was a life or death matter.
“While conducting these evacuations, the D’Iberville Fire Department received a call in reference to three teenage boys that were stranded in flood waters from a nearby creek on White Plains Road,” Smith said. “Within minutes, firefighters arrived to find a swollen creek with rushing flood waters and three victims clinging to trees approximately 50 to 60 yards from the bridge. While attempting to kayak the creek, the victims were almost immediately tossed from their kayaks into the rushing flood waters. The victims managed to grab on to some
JUSTIN THIBODEAUX
DARREN PETERSON
JACK WILLIAMS
CHRIS SEYMOUR
JAKE HUSLEY
STEVEN RAMSEY
trees on both sides of the creek and started yelling for help.”
Smith said Captains Justin Thibodeaux and Darren Peterson along with firefighters Jack Williams, Chris Seymour, Jake Husley and Steven Ramsey risked their lives to save those of the teens.
“These men, with limited daylight remaining, risked their own lives, to quickly rescue the victims and safely bring them back to the roadway,” he said. “The victims were wet, cold and tired, but thankfully survived this dangerous ordeal.”
120 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2019
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Heroes