Top Clearwater Rescuers Win Awards

The top firefighter and paramedic in Clearwater will be crowned at an employee recognition ceremony Friday.

The Firefighter and Paramedic of the Year, among others, will be recognized at Clearwater Fire and Rescue's annual ceremony at the training facility near Fire Station 48.

The employees and citizens being honored include:

Lt. Paul Capo (Firefighter of the Year): Capo earns the award for his dedication to training and mentoring new and veteran fire personnel. Capo travels around the country teaching and bringing back new ideas and tactics. He has been part of the department since October 2000.

Fire Medic Pete Gushee (Paramedic of the Year): Gushee earns the award for his skills leading or assisting in emergency care of cardiac arrest victims, including three children, this year. Gushee joined the department February 2004.

Fire personnel: Under extreme fire and smoke conditions, crews located and guided six victims to windows and balconies where they were rescued by ladders during  in July.

Fire personnel: Crews spent five days working in dangerous conditions to recover a missing worker after a building collapsed at the Weedon Island power plant in St. Petersburg in June. The rescuers tunneled more than 20 feet into the building through a passage barely 20 inches high and 24 inches wide.

Clearwater Police Officer William Nahorodny:  building to save residents from a fire Nov. 6. His actions saved their lives.

Three citizens: Three citizens helped a colleague at Bright House Networks who suffered a heart attack. They initiated CPR until emergency crews got to the scene.

If you go

What: Clearwater Fire and Rescue annual Employee Recognition Ceremony

When: 6 p.m. Friday (Dec. 9)

Where: Clearwater Fire and Rescue Training Facility, 1716 N. Belcher Road (next to Fire Station 48)