| Name: | Andre Raiford |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations, SCBA operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2012 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 2010 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Lieutenant Andre Raiford of the Chicago Fire Department was awarded the Medal of Valor for his efforts to rescue an 80-year-old woman from an apartment fire in Chicago, Illinois on October 4, 2010.
Multiple fire engine companies were dispatched to a three-story apartment building on West Jackson that was on fire. Lieutenant Raiford decided to enter the building before water lines were in place after being told by a woman that her 80-year-old grandmother was trapped inside. Despite zero visibility and increasingly hot temperatures, Raiford made his way through the burning apartment to find the victim, who was not responsive. He carried the victim out of the building and onto the front lawn where he delivered rescue breathing, using air from his mask to help her breathe.
Citations:
”Chicago firefighters, police honored for bravery.” Chicago Tribune, October 4, 2011.
”Local firefighter honored for valor.” Beverly Area Planning Association, n.d.