The Committee of 100, an agency honoring Oklahoma’s first responders since 1976, has recognized Driver/Engineer Levi Mulder of the Norman Fire Department (NFD) with the William Hulsey Award. This award is bestowed to an individual for a “display of heroism above and beyond the call of duty in a life-threatening situation.”
“While deployed with Oklahoma Task Force One (OKTF-1) in response to Hurricane Helene, Levi and his team were en route to North Carolina on September 26 when they were flagged down by law enforcement in Erwin, Tennessee,” said Chris Atteberry, NFD captain and president of Local 2067 Professional Firefighters Union. “They sprang into action without hesitation, conducting multiple swift water rescues on the flooded Nolichucky River.”
During the incident, Mulder approached a home that was overcome by raging waters.
“As (the team) got close, they could hear the victim cry for help from within the house but could not pinpoint her exact location,” Atteberry shared. “As they struggled to find the victim, one of the large trees supporting the house began to fail and the house began to break apart. Mulder immediately moved the boat out of the house's path into the more dangerous and faster moving water, further away from dry ground. His thought was that if the victim left the house, she would most likely end up in that area. Despite the extreme danger, Mulder and (other first responders) placed themselves in harm's way to give the victim the best chance to be rescued.”
Their quick-thinking and courageous acts saved that victim and three other people, along with several pets. Mulder formally received the award at a ceremony in Oklahoma City on March 27.
“Firefighter Mulder's actions that day exemplify the dedication, skill, and bravery that define our profession. His willingness to risk his own life for the safety of others is a testament to the values we uphold as members of The Norman Fire Department,” Atteberry said.
NFD Deputy Chief Joel Chesser echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the bravery and commitment of Mulder and fellow firefighters.
“The NFD takes great pride in the life-saving efforts of Driver/Engineer Levi Mulder. This rescue operation is characterized by its low frequency and high risk, which significantly increases the challenges faced by rescuers and places them under intense pressure,” Chesser said. “Mulder, along with other members of the NFD, perfect these specialized skills through OKTF-1, a dedicated unit consisting of fire personnel from across Oklahoma. We are thankful for the people that are part of specialized service and rescue teams and the positive impacts they have made during national disasters.”
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ABOUT THE NORMAN FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Norman Fire Department provides fire, rescue, medical, and hazardous materials and technical rescue response services for the City of Norman. The city limits encompass 196 sq. miles of Cleveland County, serving a population of approximately 120,000. Norman maintains nine fire stations, a fire investigation building, a fire administration building, a training center, and employs approximately 160 people. Learn more at Normanok.gov.
ABOUT THE COMMITTEE OF ONE HUNDRED
The Committee of One Hundred in Oklahoma City, Inc. operates with a mission to support federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement and fire protection organizations of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Learn more at https://committeeof100ok.org.