Florida Fire Fighter Honored for Off Duty Heroics

At the Firemark Award presentation, from left: Fire Chief Dan Gentry, Local 2135 Fire Fighter Dan Pope and Liberty Mutual Representative Chris Kent.

April 8, 2008 – An Ocala, FL Local 2135 fire fighter’s decision to eat out for dinner saved a life last summer. Liberty Mutual Insurance took notice and recently bestowed Dan Pope with its prestigious Firemark Award.

A 10-year veteran fire fighter, Pope and his wife were dining at one of their favorite restaurants last summer when restaurant staff told the Local 2135 fire fighter another customer was choking. He quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver to get the woman breathing again. After paramedics arrived, she was safely transported to a nearby hospital.

Liberty Mutual Insurance heard about the incident and bestowed Pope with its Firemark Award, which recognizes fire service personnel for going above and beyond the call of duty.

“The national insurance company was impressed with Pope because he didn’t hesitate to step in and save lives,” says Brian Stoothoff, spokesperson for Ocala Local 2135. “Whether a fire fighter is on or off duty, it is engrained in them to serve and protect citizens. That’s just what Pope did that day.”

Liberty Mutual awards between 60 and 75 Firemark Awards nationwide each year. Of the recipients, two are chosen as national winners. The winners receive an all-expenses paid trip to Disney World’s Epcot during Liberty Mutual's annual "Where's the Fire?" exhibit. In addition, the insurance company presents $10,000 checks to each of the winner’s fire departments to buy equipment or other resources.