Coggins first presented commendations to engineer Matthew Dube and firefighter Clay Barmer for reviving a patient by performing team CPR with Halifax County EMS on January 12.
The person had apparently went into cardiac arrest in the Hinson Street area, the chief told city council.
The firefighters were able to resuscitate the patient to where they had a steady pulse upon arrival at the hospital.
“That was the third call for Barmer in which he performed CPR on a patient and the patient was able to have a pulse before arriving at HRMC,” Coggins said after the meeting.
Referring to Dube, Coggins said, “He’s outgoing and energetic and excels in everything he does. These guys, they’re an asset to the department and are the future leaders of the department.”

Coggins reads the letter as, from left, Cook, Horvath, Miles and Wells listen.

Coggins then read a letter of recognition commending Battalion Chief Richard Cook; Lieutenant Chris Horvath; engineer Darrell Miles and firefighter Bruce Wells for helping a citizen on January 2.
The letter came from a resident whose neighbor had a chimney fire.
“The RRFD quickly responded, doused the flames and made sure all was well,” Kimberly Laughrey wrote to Coggins.
Her neighbor, however, was told it was not safe to burn a fire in her wood-burning stove until the chimney pipe was replaced. “(The victim) is in her seventies and lives on a very limited income. Her major source of heat is her wood stove. Needless to say, she did not and would not have the money to hire someone to replace the damaged pipe.”
The firefighters, however, after their shift, returned and replaced the damaged chimney pipe on the day of the impending snowstorm that month. “These gentlemen are the true embodiment of the stated RRFD philosophy of serving others by being in the helping people business.”
Said Coggins: “It’s just we’re in the helping people business and do as much as we can to provide service whether on duty or off duty because that’s what we do. We don’t do it to be recognized but in today’s society it is good to be recognized.”