Forney, Texas – Brent Barkham, a Forney native, received the fire service's highest honor for his actions with the DeSoto Fire Department on October 8, 2013, which resulted in three lives being saved.
{loadposition adinsert}
Barkham, a DeSoto firefighter since 2007, was presented the Medal of Valor by DeSoto Fire Department Chief Jerry Duffield at the Desoto City Council meeting on Tuesday night, January 21, 2014. His acting captain, Engineer Craig Kirk, also received a Meritorious Service Award for his actions on that same night.
At approximately 2 a.m. on October 8, 2013, Barkham and his unit arrived at the scene of a house fire in the 300 block of Mantlebrook Drive in DeSoto, Texas, with visible smoke coming from the attic – the Rosalinda family was still inside.
Aware of the residents inside, Barkham breached the front door of the home, located the residents, and assisted the family of three outside. “I do really believe without the DeSoto Police Department, fire department, and paramedics, we would not be here,” Rosalind Smith told NBC 5 after the fire in October.
“Its something you don't expect to do every day,” Barkham humbly told CBS 11 after receiving his award on Tuesday night.
Barkham's story doesn't start there. Barkham comes from a deeply intrenched fire service family – his father and brother both serve on the Volunteer Fire Department in Forney. His father, Jamie Barkham, has been a volunteer with the department for 27 years and currently serves as the assistant chief. Brent Barkham was also a volunteer with the department.
“I think what Brent did was totally selfless act, it was courageous, and he just did what his training told him to do. Go get the people,” Chief Suffield told inForney.com in an exclusive interview. “That training only works with people who have the right heart. No doubt, Brent has the right heart.”
“I have a lot of respect for Brent, his father, and brother,” said Suffield. “The thing I love about volunteers, their heart is always right and it's such a good thing to have.”
“I'm very happy for Forney that you have those great people out there working for you guys,” said Suffield who attended the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy with Forney Fire Department Chief Rick Townsend. “You're very blessed.”
At approximately 2 a.m. on October 8, 2013, Barkham and his unit arrived at the scene of a house fire in the 300 block of Mantlebrook Drive in DeSoto, Texas, with visible smoke coming from the attic – the Rosalinda family was still inside.
Aware of the residents inside, Barkham breached the front door of the home, located the residents, and assisted the family of three outside. “I do really believe without the DeSoto Police Department, fire department, and paramedics, we would not be here,” Rosalind Smith told NBC 5 after the fire in October.
“Its something you don't expect to do every day,” Barkham humbly told CBS 11 after receiving his award on Tuesday night.
Barkham's story doesn't start there. Barkham comes from a deeply intrenched fire service family – his father and brother both serve on the Volunteer Fire Department in Forney. His father, Jamie Barkham, has been a volunteer with the department for 27 years and currently serves as the assistant chief. Brent Barkham was also a volunteer with the department.
“I think what Brent did was totally selfless act, it was courageous, and he just did what his training told him to do. Go get the people,” Chief Suffield told inForney.com in an exclusive interview. “That training only works with people who have the right heart. No doubt, Brent has the right heart.”
“I have a lot of respect for Brent, his father, and brother,” said Suffield. “The thing I love about volunteers, their heart is always right and it's such a good thing to have.”
“I'm very happy for Forney that you have those great people out there working for you guys,” said Suffield who attended the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy with Forney Fire Department Chief Rick Townsend. “You're very blessed.”