WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— In the early evening hours of February 15, 2024, a fire led to the evacuation of the B'nai B'rith Apartment Complex.
The complex is home to more than 100 senior citizens.
Officials in Wilkes-Barre are honoring some of the firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, who responded to the call.
28/22 News Reporter Amelia Sack attended the ceremony.
"I thought we were gonna die, I really did," voiced Mary Herman, resident.
Mary Herman was in her third floor apartment in B'nai B'rith when the fire broke out last February.
"The smoke was really bad. You couldn't see in front of you. It was scary. It was coming out of the walls and everything," recalled Herman.
Herman was just one of over 100 residents rescued from the burning building by fire crews.
It was a complex and high-risk fire, as crews battled smoke and snowy conditions to safely remove more than 100 residents from the 12-story building.
"The fire department that night went in a burning building risking their lives to pull out senior citizens and bring them to safety," stated Mayor George Brown (D), city of Wilkes-Barre.
12 Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics who first responded to the call were honored at a ceremony at B'nai B'rith. They were awarded pins and citations for their professionalism, management and bravery.
Among those honored is Wilkes-Barre City firefighter/EMT Candice Hartman. She was one of the first to respond to the fire on the second floor.
"I assisted in search and rescue. I assisted with the backup on the hoseline," said Hartman.
"I went to the stair tower I led probably close to 40 people down the steps that night," remembered Hartman.
Many of the displaced residents were temporarily sheltered at GAR Memorial Middle School nearby, before being able to return to the apartment building in the coming days.
A year later, Hartman says returning to the scene for the ceremony is a reminder of how important and rewarding it is to be a first responder.
"One of the ladies came up to me here and she hugged me crying and she said you probably don't remember me but you helped me down the stairs you led me to safety. And that's the most rewarding thing you could have in this job," voiced Hartman.
Officials at the ceremony also noted how the operation wouldn't have been possible without the help of the neighboring fire departments who came in to assist.
