The Troy Fire Department was presented the Ohio EMS Star of Life Award on May 22, 2024. The EMS Star of Life Awards, given by the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety, recognize outstanding achievements in emergency management services and were presented to nine agencies this year. 

Troy Fire was recognized for exceptional, life-saving service during a call last June when 18-month-old Ezali Stewart was found unresponsive in a swimming pool. While family members dialed the emergency number, Ezali’s mother, Abby Cathcart, pulled the little girl out of the pool and started performing CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Within four minutes of receiving the 911 call, the Troy Fire Department was on the scene to administer CPR. By the time the ambulance arrived, Ezali was starting to respond and breathe again. She spent a few days at Dayton Children's Hospital before returning home and is now a healthy and happy two-year-old.

Troy Fire staff involved in Ezali's care were Firefighter / Paramedic Brandon Warner, Firefighter / EMT Eli Morando, Firefighter / Paramedic Dakota Brown, Firefighter / Paramedic Ben Schreiber, Platoon Commander Dale Thompson, and Firefighter / Paramedic Austin Johnson Congratulations to these outstanding personnel for this well-deserved recognition.