Chesterfield firefighters honored for heroism during Hurricane Helene
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Six Chesterfield firefighters were among 14 Virginia first responders who received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on Tuesday for their heroism during Hurricane Helene.
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), staffed by six firefighters with Chesterfield County Fire and EMS and eight members of the Virginia National Guard, was deployed to western Virginia when Hurricane Helene struck the region in the fall of 2024.
Using two Blackhawk helicopters, this specialized team rescued several people from Helene's devastating flooding.
This included a man named Carl McMurray, whose home was split in two by the floodwaters. A Chesterfield firefighter, James Bourdon, was the one to rappel down from the helicopter and secure McMurray.
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Bourdon, alongside the other members of VAHART, was given a Virginia National Guard Bronze Star on Tuesday, April 22.
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
The Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (VAHART), comprised of 6 Chesterfield firefighters and 8 members of the Virginia National Guard. They received Virginia National Guard Bronze Stars on April 22 for their heroism during Hurricane Helene. (Photos: Chesterfield County Fire and EMS)
Including Bourdon, the following Chesterfield firefighters received this great honor:
- Captain Graham Lathrop
- Lt. Justin Bennett
- Lt. Thomas Varner
- Josh Pruden
- James Bourdon
- Jake Crockett
The Virginia National Guard members who were honored include lead pilot Mark Hoffman, pilots Greg Hicks, Brian McRoberts and Charles Jackson, hoist operators Schuyler Burton and Ashley Lockmiller, crew chief Zackary Cochran and non-commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) Dion Miller.
Notably, these Helene rescues were the first real-world rescues VAHART has ever carried out. The team has existed since 2011.
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VAHART is just one of several specialized teams Chesterfield firefighters are a part of. Two others include the Virginia Task Force 8 Urban Search & Rescue (VA-TF8) -- which was also deployed during Helene and executed many rescues -- and the Med-Flight team.
