Dickson Mayor Don L. Weiss Jr. and Dickson Fire Department Chief Richard Greer presented the Medal of Valor to Lt. Jeff Salewsky for his actions in attempting to save a man from his burning home.
Mayor Weiss and the Dickson City Council recognized Salewsky at the May 1 council meeting.
The mayor stated that Salewsky was traveling home with his family on April 12 when they spotted a house on fire on Hortense Road.
While his wife called 911, Salewsky entered the burning home without firefighting equipment and located the resident, later identified as 62-year-old Alphonso “Big Al” Vaughn Sr., in a bedroom. According to reports, Salewsky was unable to remove Vaughn from the home as he was driven out by smoke and heat.
Chief Greer said Salewsky entered the home a second time without protective gear but was unsuccessful in removing Vaughn due to the ongoing fire.
When local volunteer firefighters arrived on the scene, Salewsky utilized gear and equipment to enter the home a third time and suppress the fire.
Neighbors, family members and others managed to tear a hole through a bedroom wall to remove Vaughn from the home. He later died as a result of injuries suffered in the blaze, according to reports.
At the council meeting, Mayor Weiss and Chief Greer recognized Salewsky “for his unselfish and courageous action” in attempting to rescue Vaughn.
A funeral service for Vaughn was held April 18 at Taylor Funeral Home with burial in Dickson County Memorial Gardens.
A lieutenant on Dickson Fire Department’s B shift, Salewsky has been with the department for 35 years. He also works as a part-time corrections officer with the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office.
