Chicago Man Honored For Heroic Efforts During March 4 Tinley Park Fire

By Jon DePaolis, the Richard Free Press:

TINLEY PARK, Ill. – A Chicago man who is being lauded for taking life-saving action during a March house fire was honored Tuesday, April 13, during the Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees meeting.

David Sleeper was presented with a Citizens Life Saving Award from the Tinley Park Fire Department during the meeting for actions he took on March 4. According to Village documents, Sleeper was returning home from work around 6 a.m. when he saw that a home located on Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park was on fire. He not only called 911 but also exited his vehicle and began knocking on the windows and doors of the home to try and alert the residents, who were asleep at the time.

“Firefighters and all public safety professionals swear a solemn oath to protect lives – and, if called upon to do so, put their lives on the line for those who need us,” Tinley Park Fire Department Chief Forest Reeder said. “It is said that people run from fire while firefighters face it with courage with their training as a calling.

“Mr. David Sleeper did what most would not do. He saw a home on fire, stopped his travel home after seeing smoke and fire, and did the only thing that he thought that he could do – and that was to help.

“Through his efforts of knocking on windows and doors to the house – all while exposing himself to the heat and smoke from the fire – the residents and their pet who were asleep in the home were able to escape.”

As a result of Sleeper’s actions, there were no injuries to the residents.

“In the 120-year history of the Tinley Park Fire Department, this is the first Citizens Life Saving Award that we have issued to our knowledge,” Reeder said. “A medal is being crafted to Mr. Sleeper, and with it comes our thanks and appreciation for the valor he displayed on the morning of March 4.”

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