July 23, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Asst. to the Fire Chief
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2411, page: 675-2137

Fire Chief to Recognize Nursing Home Staff for Actions

Group extinguished room fire and evacuated tenants to safety . . .

Shreveport Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran will present 10 members of The Guest House nursing care facility with Civilian Letters of Commendations this afternoon for their actions during a fire at the facility on July 9, 2003. That day, in the early morning hour an air conditioning unit in one of the guest’s rooms caught fire and quickly spread. The staff on-duty took quick and purposeful action in not only evacuating the effected area but also went into the smoke filled room and extinguished the fire prior to the fire department’s arrival. Details of the presentation ceremony are as follows:

Where: The Guest House, 9225 Normandie Drive (next to Albertsons on Mansfield Road)

When: Friday, July 25, 2003

Time 3:30 p.m.

Cochran commended the actions, saying, "The quick and decisive decisions that morning of the highly trained and skilled staff of The Guest House resulted in a positive outcome and saved occupants from sustaining injury and the structure from further damage. Without question these ladies did not only their job but went above and beyond in their performance during this crisis." Receiving Civilian Letters of Commendations are: Brenda Green, Marilyn Perigo, Samantha Lee, Cynthia Brown, Lillie Johnson, Veronica O’Neal, Susie O’Neal, Michelle Bedford, Dominiq White, and Gail Moore. ###