Joplin Firefighter recognized for actions during vehicle crash

JOPLIN, Mo. — A Joplin firefighter is honored for his quick action to protect the public.

The Joplin Kiwanis Club awarded its First Responder of the Month honor to Joplin Fire Assistant Chief Dustin Lunow.

He was on the scene when an unrelated driver was struck during a police pursuit and crash. Lunow used his own car to block the civilian vehicle, creating an additional barrier in case the incident escalated to gunfire.

"The violence of the impact was pretty extreme. So seeing that and being right there and able to get on the radio and call for more assistance and be able to provide help immediately was, was very much different. We respond to a lot of different emergencies. Very rarely are we involved in the first actions of the emergency," said JFD Assistant Chief Dustin Lunow.

The crash occurred at the intersection of 20th and Connecticut on October 2. Lunow moved his car into harm's way and removed the civilian victim from their vehicle, acting at "peril to his own safety."