Baltimore County Fire Department’s highest civilian honor goes to 10-year-old

By Tyana Campbell
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer

Quick thinking, heroic actions of 10-year-old Dana Goodman Jr. earned him the highest praise from the Baltimore County Fire Department and the County Executive, as well as the Citizen’s Medal of Honor on Tuesday.

Goodman, also known as DJ, is the youngest to receive the medal for helping his grandparents get safely out of their burning home last May. He was 9 years old.

“I saw and smelt the smoke fire and saw that it was a fire,” the youth shyly shared with The Baltimore Watchdog. “I was really scared. I started yelling, ‘fire, we gotta get out the house.’”

Officials said that Goodman was asleep in his grandparents’ home in the unit block of Charleswood Court in Lochearn on May 28. He awoke to the sound of a smoke detector and, remembering fire drill training in school, crawled to his grandparents’ room to get them out of the house. They safely escaped and called 911.

“To be 9 years old and have the courage that he has is amazing,” said Acting Fire Chief Jennifer L. Aubert-Utz, “most kids at that age will run from danger, they’ll be afraid. For DJ to remember the lessons he learned in school through his community, to stay low and crawl to his grandparents, is very courageous.”

At a ceremony at Loch Raven High School, County Executive John Olszewski Jr. congratulated Goodman “in his bravery in saving his grandparents in a complicated situation.”

Three civilians and about 160 public safety personnel received awards at the commendation’s ceremony. The group included two members of the Texas Fire Station’s Urban Search and Rescue Team who were honored with Bronze Stars.

“We are happy, we are honored, to spend two hours tonight focused on the contributions,” Olszewski said. “Thank you all for the act of heroism; the big ones recognized tonight and the small ones that you perform every day.”

Fire Lt. Jason Porrovicchio and FADO Shawn Drees received the Bronze Star for their recognition of “exceptional bravery, intelligence and lifesaving effort entailing serious risk” during a July 25, 2018 swift water rescue in Carroll County. Officials said they fought a swollen, fast-moving stream to reach a person attached to a tree. Fire Lt. Eric Cole and Fire Sgt. Eric Hartman were a part of the rescue team present at the scene last year. The two received awards in recognition for their bravery in lifesaving and serious risk.

“As we approached the scene the man attached to the tree had water up to his shoulders,” said Porrovicchio. “The water was moving very rapidly. We were able to get on a safety boat and pull the man through the boat. We believe that the person’s car is still at the bottom of Liberty Reservoirs.”

Drees said, “It was one of those moments where me and Jason looked back and said, ‘wow that was really bad.’ I’m glad that were advanced at dealing with the patient and that the EMT in Carroll County was able to locate him. If not, he could have died out there.”

Aubert-Utz said, “I think they do an amazing job every day, they come to work with an open heart and an open mind ready to serve the communities and their well-trained professionals.”