Top: Firefighters Dan Russell and Mike Cieslak. Bottom: Lt. Lorbach and Firefighter Brian Molina

They range from eight to seventeen years experience as Lorain Firefighters and are well seasoned in all aspects of firefighting. All four are Emergency Medical Technicians. Their applications were electronically sent to FEMA for consideration and they were accepted over the Labor Day weekend. They were notified on Labor day and informed that they had to leave for Atlanta Georgia on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at 0700. They only had roughly 36 hours to get their personnal affairs in order before leaving. They will be deployed by FEMA for a minimum of 30 days and were required to take only a sleeping bag, rain gear, a couple of changes of clothing, toiletries, a first aid kit and a flashlight.

It is unknown at this time what or where their assignment will be but we a re confident that they will be able to handle any task they are assigned. They arrived in Altanta on Wednesday morning and received innoculations, and government instructions and training before receiving their assignments. We will update you as soon as we hear more on their assignments and any news they share with us in the days to come.

Since they have left, many other Lorain Firefighters have requested to deploy to the region to help with relief efforts. The IAFC had fullfilled its request for 2,000 firefighters within 24 hours of putting out the request. These four men represent all of the Firefighters of the Lorain Fire Department and we are proud of their response to the request for help. There are many hazards in the region and we pray for their safety and the welfare of their families while they are gone. We ask that everyone please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

FEMA will reimburse the city of Lorain for all wages and benefits incurred by the four firefighters while they are deployed to the region.

We will keep you posted of any further news from our four Firefighters.

Tom Lorbach

Dan Russell

Brian Molina

Mike Cieslak