Lifesaving Awards Presented for Fiery Heroism By Michelle Williams, Deputy Clerk / Senior Administrative Assistant
From left to right: M. Ratliff, C. Ratliff, Deputy McFarlane
At the July 27, 2021, Board of Supervisors ’ Regular Meeting, County Administrator, Theodore L. Voorhees, read a narrative recalling the events that occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 15, 2021, when Deputy Bryan McFarlane came upon a two - car accident with one car overturned in a field and the other car further down the road. Deputy McFarlane stopped at the car in the field and helped the female driver out of the vehicle. While assisting her, bystanders were yelling to direct his attention to the vehicle further away. That vehicle had caught on fire with a female trapped inside. He quickly responded to the burning car, where he emptied his fire extinguisher, ran back to his Animal Control truck, grabbed a gallon of water, and poured that on the fire as well.
Virginia Department of Transportation employees, Monacoe Ratliff and Cleacoe Ratliff, also attempted to extinguish the fire by emptying extinguishers from their VDOT vehicles, but were unable to put out the fire either.
With the fire intensifying and running out of resources to fight the blaze, Deputy McFarlane went back to his truck, hooked a tow strap to the door of the crashed vehicle, and attempted to pull the door open. His first attempt was unsuccessful. However, he cut the strap and repositioned it, backed his vehicle up, and was able to get the door open long enough for Monacoe and Cleacoe to pull the victim to safety.
Page 13 | August, 2021
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