SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Five Central Illinois firefighters were honored for heroism while a sixth who passed away in 2023 was honored at the 31st Annual Fallen Firefighter and Medal of Honor Ceremony in Springfield Tuesday.
The late Maroa Countryside Fire Protection District Fire Chief Larry Peasley was remembered at the ceremony at the BOS Center. His name will now appear on the Firefighters Memorial at the Illinois State Capitol. His family was awarded a special Gold Badge.
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Teutopolis firefighters Brett Repking, Dan Kocher, and Ryan Lee along with Montrose Assistant Fire Chief David Browning and firefighter Drew Pals received Medals of Honor. The five were involved in the September rescue of individuals who were overcome by a toxic plume of anhydrous ammonia which leaked from an overturned tanker. Five people were killed and 500 evacuated when the tanker carrying 7,500 gallons of anhydrous wrecked.
The accident is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
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