FIREFIGHTERS, POLICEMAN EARN DISTINCTION FOR THEIR BRAVERY

Nine Cape Girardeau firefighters and a police officer received awards of valor Tuesday.

Fire Chief Robert Ridgeway presented the awards in a brief ceremony at Fire Station No. 1.

The city employees were honored for their actions in battling four major fires last year, including the Plaza Tire blaze on Nov. 19.

Their actions, Ridgeway said, saved the lives of at least three people, including two who weren't breathing when they were rescued and had to be resuscitated.

"To my thinking, the ability to perform in very adverse conditions when the chips are down is what the very concept of fire rescue is all about," the fire chief said.

Awards were given to Assistant Chief Max Jauch, Training Officer Mark Hasheider, Capts. Paul "Butch" Lufcy, Fred Vincel and Steve Besand, firefighters Harry Schumer, David Scherer, Ed Serandos and Charles Johnson, and police officer Homer Markhart.

Johnson was ill and couldn't attend the ceremony.

Jauch, Hasheider and Schumer were honored for their efforts in battling the Plaza Tire blaze. Both Jauch and Hasheider received Gold Star valor awards, the department's highest honor.

About 100 firefighters from Cape Girardeau and surrounding departments were involved in battling the blaze that destroyed one business and damaged the Plaza Tire warehouse.

Schumer came to the aid of two firefighters who were injured when a wall collapsed, while Jauch and Hasheider were cited for helping direct the massive firefighting effort.

Serandos and Vincel were honored for rescuing a tenant in a July 26 apartment house fire at 105 S. Spanish.

Lufcy, Scherer, Johnson, Besand and Markhart were recognized for rescuing two tenants trapped in the Nov. 30 boarding house fire at 719 N. West End Blvd.

Lufcy also was honored for his efforts in battling a Nov. 13 apartment house fire at 135 S. Spanish and was recognized as the outstanding fire department employee for the fourth quarter of 1994.

The awards came as a surprise to Lufcy, who has been employed with the department for nearly 25 years.

"It makes you feel real good," he said.

Lufcy added that the awards would please his father, Paul Lufcy, who was a Cape Girardeau fireman for 25 years before retiring in March 1971.

The younger Lufcy grew up around fire trucks. He and his father ended up working together as firefighters for about a year before the elder Lufcy retired.