BOSTON, May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Liberty Mutual Insurance, one of the nation's leading home and auto insurers, is today celebrating America's firefighters by announcing the recipients of its National Firemark Award. Lieutenant Michael Cosgrove of Selden, N.Y., is this year's honoree of the Liberty Mutual Firemark Award for Heroism and Fire Fighter Michael McLeieer of Merrimac, Mass., has earned the Liberty Mutual Firemark Award for Community Service and Public Education. Both Cosgrove and McLeieer have gone above and beyond their responsibilities to demonstrate their bravery and commitment to education. To reward these everyday heroes, Liberty Mutual will award both the Selden and Merrimac Fire Departments each with a $10,000 grant.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110607/NE15669LOGO )

A committee comprised of numerous fire safety organizations annually selects the Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award winners from among a pool of more than 150 firefighter nominees, each of whom had received a local Firemark Award from a Liberty Mutual Insurance office in their community throughout 2012. The selection committee includes representatives from such fire safety groups as the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

"We're excited to present this year's Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award to both Michael Cosgrove and Michael McLeieer because they both truly exemplify selfless commitments to keeping the public safe and educating people about the importance of fire safety," said James MacPhee, senior vice president and Chief Marketing Officer, Liberty Mutual Personal Insurance. "At Liberty Mutual Insurance, responsibility is ingrained in our culture, so we couldn't be more proud to see these two men personifying responsibility at the highest level in their communities."

Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award for HeroismLieutenant Michael Cosgrove, Selden Fire Department

It is difficult to say anyone else could be as deserving for this award as Michael Cosgrove. Two years ago, Cosgrove proved his heroic efforts when he put his life on the line to help save someone else. On July 3, 2011, Cosgrove, a 15-year veteran, received a page for a fire in a single family house, just eight doors down from his home. Naturally, his instinct kicked in and he immediately responded to the scene. He was able to successfully remove all the occupants from the first floor and after hearing reports of a trapped person on the second floor, Cosgrove extended a ladder outside the house and made his way to a second floor window. From outside the building he tended to the unconscious occupant and held the individual near the window, suffering second and third degree burns in the process.

This March, Cosgrove experienced an unfortunate set of circumstances. When a call came in for a house fire in his hometown, he had no idea that he would be responding his own home. A man driving under the influence crashed his pickup truck into Cosgrove's house, severing a natural gas line and igniting the house into flames. Although Cosgrove was anticipating having to rescue his wife and two children from the burning house, upon arrival firefighters were met by his family who had safely escaped the fire. Although Cosgrove and his unit were able to get to work extinguishing the flames, his house suffered severe damages.

Selden Fire Chief Joseph Leavens says that the funds will be allocated toward purchasing reflective post markers that will be installed on every public fire hydrant in the district. Members of the fire department will be installing them, so they will have the opportunity to interact with the community and educate residents on the need to keep the hydrants clear and accessible. These markers will help firefighters locate hydrants at night and during times of heavy snow.

Cosgrove was thrilled to learn that he won The Liberty Mutual Firemark Award this year. "I'm very humbled by this honor and by the grant money from Liberty Mutual Insurance," said Cosgrove. "This money will help increase the safety of our community by ensuring that every hydrant in the district is marked and visible, especially helpful in times of heavy snow like we experienced last year."

Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award for Community Service Michael McLeieer, Merrimac Fire Department

Continue reading here:

Liberty Mutual Insurance Celebrates Two Firefighters For Outstanding Heroism And Community Service With National ...