| Volunteer Firefighter Lieutenant Joseph Kelly Recognized for Bravery
Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott acknowledged the courage of Lieutenant Joseph Kelly of the Woolwich-Elmira Fire Department in the following statement which he made in the Ontario Legislature on December 5, 2001:
Mr Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): Today I want to recognize the courage of a firefighter from Waterloo-Wellington whose quick thinking and actions saved a man's life. Lieutenant Joseph Kelly of the Woolwich-Elmira Fire Department was returning from a business trip on Highway 86, east of Elmira, when he came upon a collision between a car and a truck that resulted in a fireball. Without hesitation, he and another citizen on the scene risked their lives and pulled the driver of the car to safety.
Using a packsack as a shield, Joseph Kelly then attempted to approach the truck, but the heat from the fire was overwhelming and the packsack started to burn in his hands. Soon after they pulled the man to safety, the car exploded into a firestorm.
These actions earned Joseph Kelly the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery, which was presented to him at Queen's Park on November 13 by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable Hilary Weston. Lieutenant Kelly was acknowledged for exceptional courage, and his actions remind us of the courage and sacrifice that firefighters bring to the job in Ontario. In Waterloo-Wellington, his actions also remind us of the importance of volunteer service, because Lieutenant Kelly is a volunteer firefighter.
I know this Legislature recognizes the great contributions that all of our volunteer firefighters make in our communities. I was honoured to work with my colleagues here to support their efforts when we passed my private member's bill in 1994 that enabled volunteer firefighters to identify their personal vehicles by using a flashing green light. In 1998, my private member's bill to allow for the maximum compensation for volunteer firefighters if they are injured in the line of duty was adopted into government legislation and passed into law as well.
Lieutenant Kelly went beyond his duty, and this brave act reminds us why firefighters, especially volunteer firefighters, are an inspiration to us all.
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