Memo - Award of ValorHoplans Fire Dept.
To: Mayor Maxwell and City Council
CC: City Manager Rick Getschow
From: Dale Specken
Date: 11 / 14/2008
Re: Award of Valor
On Monday Oct 13 at 9:30pm the Hopkins Police and Fire Department were dispatched to 619
Robinwood Lane for the report of an apartment fire. Upon arrival we found heavy smoke showing
from a second floor apartment. When I arrived there was a middle aged male (Michael Beagin)
standing outside in the back of the complex. He was covered in soot and was coughing. The police
department administered first aid to the victim until HCMC arrived on the scene. Fire crews
extinguished the fire and started to remove the smoke. I began my investigation by speaking with the
Mr. Beagin outside and he stated that he had been sleeping on the floor in the living room and woke
up to find thick black smoke down to the floor. Two other male parties in the building Clu-is Norum
and Brandon Feist smelled the smoke and began to investigate. They smelled and saw smoke coming
from apartment 8. Chris pounded on the door and could not hear any one. Chris kicked in the door
and found smoke to the floor and saw a fire in the living room. Chris attempted to extinguish fire
with a fire extinguisher but due to the smoke he had to leave the building. Chris and Brandon exited
to the rear of the building and were yelling up to the apartment to see if anyone was there. They then
heard the glass break and saw a hand at the window. Brandon and Chris reached up and pulled Mr.
Beagin from the window to safety.
It is this unselfish act by both Brandon and Chris to risk their lives to save Mr. Beagin that the
Ho~kins Fire Dept will be issuing both Brandon and Chris The Award of Valor Certificate at the Nov
18 City Council Meeting.