Milton firefighters, police officer honored for their efforts

From left, Milton Firefighter Jason Behrens and Fire and Rescue Capt. Jarrod Wheeler pose after accepting their lifesaving awards at a ceremony in Hampton, N.H., on Friday. (Courtesy photos Milton Fire and Rescue Facebook Page)

HAMPTON, N.H. - Two Milton firefighters and a Milton police officer were among those honored on Friday at the 2016 Night of Hero Awards for their lifesaving efforts in the line of duty.

Milton Fire and Rescue Capt. Jarrod Wheeler and Firefighter Jason Behrens were awarded the Michael Maloney Hero in Action Award for their outstanding actions during a call involving a breech child birth.

The child was delivered unresponsive and pulseless, but Wheeler and Behrens worked skillfully to revive the infant for a positive outcome.

From left, Milton Firefighter Jason Behrens, Milton Police Officer Nick Nirgianakis and Milton Fire and Rescue Capt. Jarrod Wheeler posing after accepting their awards on Friday.

Milton Police Officer Nick Nirgianakis was also given an award for his outstanding efforts at the scene of a motor vehicle accident earlier this year. He risked his own life trying to save a man whose car erupted in flame after a crash on White Mountain Highway in April. The man subsequently died, but Nirgianakis fought to save him even as the car was burning around him.

The awards presentations were held at the Ashworth by the Sea in Hampton Beach, N.H.