The Suffolk County SPCA awarded six members of the Suffolk County Police Department and a Paramedic from the Selden Fire Department today with Certificates of Commendation for their heroic actions rescuing pets from a house fire in Selden last month.
On July 24 2020, at approximately 11:30am, a fire broke out at a home on Iroquois Avenue. Sergeant William Madden, and Police Officers Corey Vogt, Lynn Volpe, Angelica Nebel, and Robert Strandvold, entered the home, which was fully engulfed in flames and rescued 2 occupants, four dogs and three cats. The cats were unconscious and the officers, along with Selden Fire Department Paramedic Melissa Blom, administered first aid to the pets and were able to revive two of the cats. Unfortunately, one cat didn’t survive the ordeal.
Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk County SPCA presented the certificates to the officers and paramedic and praised them for their heroism. Also on hand to present the certificates were Suffolk County Police Department First Deputy Commissioner James Spopek, Suffolk County Police Deputy Chief Christopher Hatton, Chief of Patrol’s Office, and Selden Fire Department Chief Eck.
