Two Local Racers Receive Firefighter of the Year Award!
Contact: dani@full8sports.com
SALT POINT, NY: July 19, 2022; On the evening of October 13, 2021, an explosion was felt throughout the small town of Pine Plains. Chief Brian Walsh, driver of the 43 street stock, was at the fire house. Like any first responder, his immediate instinct was to head towards the direction of the blast. He called Tomm Gomm, driver of the 32 Prostock, who was at Brian's race shop working on his 2022 car.
As a captain with Milan Volunteer Fire Department, Tomm had 15 years of experience as a firefighter and gave Brian an idea of where the blast originated. A few moments later hearing Brian on the radio requesting help, Tomm left the 32 chassis and headed towards the scene.
The pair found a house that had collapsed secondary to an explosion with heavy fire. As resources were being dispatched bringing fire departments, police, and EMS agencies, Brian and Tomm went to work and with the help of neighbors and bystanders reports, attempted to locate the home’s occupants. They were able to locate one person, trapped in the rubble however, fire conditions impeded their ability to free the person. After the first due engine arrived on the scene, the fire was held at bay in order to facilitate the extrication of the trapped person, who was transported with non-life-threatening injuries according to New York State Police.
For those who have never been around an emergency, consider yourself lucky. The chaos rivals that of the race track, but the stakes are much different when the responsibility of other lives are placed in your hands. This was a third-alarm fire that required assistance from nine local fire departments, three police agencies, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division, and the Dutchess County Medical Examiner.
Please join us in thanking Chief Brian Walsh and Asst. Chief Tomm Gomm for their service and congratulate them on a well-deserved recognition for their life-saving actions.
Be sure to check out Tomm and Brian on the track at Lebanon Valley for first responders night this Saturday July 23, 2022. Warm-ups will be at 5 with racing at 6!
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