3 Elliot Lake men honoured for actions during Algo Centre Mall collapse

Three first responders from Elliot Lake will receive the Province of Ontario's top honour for bravery from The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Captain Ken Barnes, Captain John Thomas, and Firefighter Adam Vance of the Elliot Lake Fire Service are named recipients of the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery for their demonstration of outstanding courage in the line of duty.

As stated on the Province of Ontario website, the trio are being recognized for their actions during the 2012 Algo Centre Mall collapse, outlined below:

The tragedy of the 2012 Algo Centre Mall roof collapse is permanently etched into the memories of Ontarians.

On June 23, 2012, Captain Ken Barnes, Captain John Thomas and Firefighter Adam Vance were part of a team of nine firefighters who entered the Algo Centre Mall after part of its roof collapsed to identify hazards and search for survivors.

A 12-metre by 24-metre slab of concrete from the roof-top parking lot had crashed through the two-storey mall.

The only access point for the firefighters and other first responders was under a partially collapsed set of escalators covered in debris.

Above them, an SUV was perched precariously on broken slabs.

The firefighters crouched underneath an escalator to get to the rubble pile, aware that large cracks on both sides of a support beam could bring both escalators tumbling down.

As they worked to clear the rubble and locate survivors, pieces of debris continued to drop from above and the concrete under their feet occasionally shifted.

Small debris was lifted, but the larger slabs were too unstable for the equipment the firefighters had.

Eventually, Barnes, Thomas, Vance and others resorted to poking their heads into cleared areas and scanning them with a thermal imaging camera.

Arms were also stretched as far as they could into cracks and voids to feel for survivors.

The situation continued to deteriorate as the structure weakened.

A sewer camera was brought in to continue the search.

Despite a decision to evacuate all first responder personnel, Barnes, Thomas and Vance volunteered to stay behind to operate the camera.

Under the threat of further slabs breaking loose, the firefighters ensured that no area was left unsearched.

The force of downward air from a helicopter flying above the scene disturbed the largest support beam, and small debris began to fall as two of the larger concrete slabs started to vibrate.

At that point, there was concern the SUV could roll onto the firefighters searching below.

After four hours, Barnes, Thomas and Vance exited the mall until the search area could be secured and they could safely re-enter the collapse zone.

These three firefighters stayed behind in precarious conditions to locate victims and try to save lives.

A news release issued by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services follows.

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Heroic firefighters, police officers receive top honours

Lieutenant Governor presents medals for bravery

Sixteen firefighters and six police officers are receiving Ontario's top honours for bravery.

The Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery and the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery are the province's highest honours in recognition of firefighters and police officers whose actions demonstrate outstanding courage.

The recipients of the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery include:

City of Kenora Fire and Emergency Services

    •    Acting Captain Terry McLeod
    •    Firefighter Kenton Ammerman
    •    Firefighter Earl Bichon

Elliot Lake Fire Service

    •    Captain Ken Barnes
    •    Captain John Steven Thomas
    •    Firefighter Adam Vance

Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services

    •    Captain Bruce Hicks
    •    Captain Derek Wilson
    •    Acting Captain Brian Chapman
    •    Acting Captain Marcus Middleton
    •    Firefighter Matthew Attwell
    •    Firefighter Anthony Colabufalo
    •    Firefighter Larry Douglas Martin
    •    Firefighter Travis Robbins
    •    Firefighter Daryl Roy

Shebandowan Fire Department

    •    Firefighter Ray Pilon

The recipients of the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery include:

Niagara Regional Police Service

    •    Constable Jacob Smits

Toronto Police Service

    •    Sergeant Jeff Alderdice
    •    Constable Bill Peterson

Ontario Provincial Police

    •    Sergeant Hubert Beauclair (Upsala Detachment)
    •    Provincial Constable Doug Golding (Shabaqua Detachment)
    •    Sergeant Patrick Smith (Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment)

Quick facts

A total 217 Ontario Medals for Firefighter Bravery have been awarded since 1976.

A total 253 Ontario Medals for Police Bravery have been awarded since 1975.

An independent body of citizens from the firefighting and policing communities representing all regions of Ontario determines medal recipients.

Quotes

“These extraordinary individuals inspire us with their courage and devotion to the public good. I am privileged to be presenting these medals for bravery to Ontario’s finest firefighters and police officers.” - The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

“Ontario’s firefighters and police officers perform acts of bravery every day. Those we honour today showed quick thinking and outstanding courage in life threatening situations. The Ontario Medals for Bravery recognize extraordinary heroism. It was an honour to meet the recipients and say thank you on behalf of a grateful province.” - Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Learn more

The Ontario Medal for Police Bravery

The Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery

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