East Ridge firefighters Brent Massey, left, and Eric Bowen, stand behind three young men who saved a woman’s life who was trapped in a burning duplex last week. The three heroes seated from left, Brandon Cook, Michael Wilson and Nick Davis.

The East Ridge Optimist Club had its annual “First Responders Appreciation Luncheon” Tuesday afternoon at the city’s Community Center.

Harry Mackey, the club’s president, loosened up the “tough” audience of police officers and firefighters by telling them that “you people can be a little scary.”

Mackey said he was in his shiny Lincoln driving down Ringgold Road minding his own business when he looked up in his rear-view mirror and saw a “big, red truck with sirens and lights” two feet from his bumper. “It scared me so bad I spilled my slushie all over myself.”

Mackey and his crew weren’t too scared to cook up some fine barbecue and chicken with au gratin potatoes and beans to feed the brave men and women of East Ridge who serve the city every day of the year.

Fire Chief Mike Williams reminded everyone that we were just a few days past the 15th anniversary of the attack on America on Sept. 11, 2001.

“It seems like yesterday,” he said.

He recounted the grim statistics of 348 firefighters having perished on that day saving the lives of New Yorkers from the Twin Towers. He said that 127 names have been added to that list in recent years from firefighters succumbing to respiratory illnesses directly linked to their having breathed toxic substances during the rescue.

Chief Williams said that initial media reports were estimating that 10,000 civilians would probably perish during the tragic events of that day. But, the actual death toll was 3,000

“That’s because the first responders had a lot of help,” Chief Williams added. “They had help from civilians, like you and me, who were carrying injured people down the stairs.

“Don’t ever forget the others, the heroes, just like you, who stepped up and helped,” he continued. “That’s the kind of action that makes America strong.”

Chief Williams then introduced three young men who dragged a woman from her burning duplex on East Ridge Drive over the weekend; Michael Wilson, Brandon Cook and Nick Davis.

“These people are true heroes,” Chief Williams said. “There is nothing greater than to help your brother or your sister by risking your own life.”

Cook, 23, said he and his friends were inside his duplex next door when one of the fellows smelled smoke. They went outside and saw smoke billowing from the neighbor’s house next door.

“We opened up the door and Michael was the first through,” Cook said. “We saw the lady’s feet close to the door. She must have been in the shower because she was wrapped up in it.”

Davis said that the smoke was horrible inside the house. “When we opened up the door it just got worse,” he said. Davis said the men grabbed her and got her outside.

“She kept yelling for someone,” Davis said. “We thought it might be a guy that lives there who uses a motorized wheelchair. It wasn’t him.”

The men said the woman was yelling for her dog. They said they never saw the dog that presumably was killed in the fire.

“Had you told me the day before this happened that I would run into a burning house to save someone, I would have told you that you were crazy,” Cook said as firefighters came by and shook the hands of the three who were finishing up their lunches. 

ERFD Chief Mike Williams, left, and Firefighter of the Year Thomas Finch.

Chief Williams announced the Firefighter of the Year, voted on by members of the East Ridge Fire Department, as being Thomas Finch.

Finch, an engineer, has been with the department more than a decade, Chief Williams said. He is a mentor to the younger firefighters, “a kind of father figure.” Chief Williams noted that Finch is a proven leader and a teacher to all members of the department. “And, I love him like a brother.”

Police Chief J.R. Reed told those in attendance that usually people gather to honor a police officer at a funeral. No, this is a happy occasion, he said.

Chief Reed said that within 90 days of assuming the chief’s job he hired a young woman straight out of the state Police Academy in Donaldson. That woman was Lauren “Lexie” Whittenburg. 

In naming Officer Whittenburg the Police Officer of the Year, Chief Reed said “she is committed to her fellow officers, the department and the city.”

“There is not a  more industrious or motivated officer, to say the least, in our department,” he added. “

ERPD Chief J.R. Reed, left, with Police Officer of the Year Lauren Whittenburg.