A firefighter from Indianapolis receives the “Community Hero Award” during the NHRA U.S. Nationals

Indianapolis, Indiana – At the U.S. Nationals of the National Hot Rod Association held at Indianapolis Raceway Park, a firefighter from Indianapolis grabbed center stage.

The NHRA and Fire Department Coffee together to present the “Community Hero Award” at occasions across the nation.

Sam Fehrer, an employee of the Indianapolis Fire Department, was recognized on Sunday for his valiant efforts during a house fire earlier this year.

“For the most part, it was just a really chaotic scene,” Fehrer said.

Engine 11 of the IFD had a busy afternoon in February when it was called. Fehrer arrived on the scene and pulled a child from the flames.

He believes the answer was a team effort but he is unable to go into great detail.

“We’re a really tight-knit group of people here at the 11s,” Fehrer said. “Everybody knows what their role is on every run and we just work really well together.”

The veteran of the IFD for seven years has experienced a lot. He had previously battled cancer and served in the US Marine Corps.

Coffee from Fire Department aims to support first responders like him. According to FDC Vice President Jason Patton, other first responders founded, own, and run the business.

“Whenever somebody steps above and beyond and does an incredible job, we want to get behind them,” Patton said. “Raise them up a little bit and say, ‘Thank you so much for serving your community.’”

Being a firefighter himself, Patton claims to understand the anxiety that comes with calls involving children.

“We actually are all a giant family, no matter where you worked, no matter where in the world you are a firefight or paramedic, we always have the same conversions,” Patton said. “We talk about the same things because we are, in fact, the same types of people.”

Fehrer admitted he had never attended the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway but that he was looking forward to the thrill.

“It’s our job, we don’t expect to get any awards for it but it is nice that they do that for us and other departments too,” Fehrer said.
The IFD’s “Iron Joel Cancer Fund,” which assists Indianapolis firemen facing the cancer, will receive funding from FDC’s subscription club in November.