| Name: | Thomas Slepski |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Tinley Park Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | |
| Rank: | |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2005 |
| Incident City: | Tinley Park |
| Year of Incident: | 2004 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Engineer John Urbanski, Assistant Fire Chief Thomas Slepski, and Lieutenant James Owczarski of the Tinley Park Fire Department’s Engine 203 were awarded the Medal of Valor for their actions to rescue two boys during a residential fire in Tinley Park, Illinois on December 27, 2004.
Engine 203 responded to a dispatch indicating there was a fire at 17424 94th Court. Upon arrival, they found neighbors unsuccessfully attempting to rescue two boys who were trapped in the second story of the residence. They were also informed that both victims were autistic. Lieutenant Owczarski was among a crew that tried to rescue the first boy, who was near the second-story window. He resisted their efforts at first and retreated into the house, closer to the flames. However, they were finally able to retrieve him. They were told the other boy was in a different bedroom. After ventilation cleared out some of the smoke, Assistant Chief Slepski and Engineer Urbanski found him near the kitchen. They were able to remove him to a safe location.
Citation:
“Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal,” The Gong, July-September, 2005.