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Ellis County honors firefighters and EMS for February life‑saving response
Summary
Ellis County on May 12 recognized a February 9 incident in which volunteer firefighter Matt Van Dyke was revived after collapsing on duty; county leaders praised the coordinated response by firefighters and EMS and presented lifesaving awards to responders.
Ellis County presented lifesaving awards May 12 to county firefighters and EMS personnel who helped revive firefighter Matt Van Dyke after he collapsed while responding to a reported structure/grass fire on Feb. 9.
Darren Myers, Ellis County fire chief, described crews finding Van Dyke unresponsive at the station, applying CPR and an automated external defibrillator, and coordinating transport by EagleMed to Wichita for further care. "The services that we provide, the volunteers that provide the service that they do... save their lives," Myers said as he introduced the award presentations. County officials said Van Dyke remained hospitalized for about a week and was on light duty for roughly eight weeks before returning home; staff noted he no longer can weld as a precaution.
Captain James Younger, firefighters Mason Emerson and Tanner Herskowitz, EMS Director Danita Schroeder and paramedic/EMT staff including Kelly Depizzi and Dawson Bonfell were singled out for on‑scene actions and coordination. Van Dyke, who spoke briefly at the commission meeting, said, "I'm extremely lucky to be here today," and thanked colleagues and medical staff.
The commission used the public recognition to highlight the county's volunteer fire system and the role of coordinated EMS and mutual‑aid response in rural calls. No formal action or funding decision resulted from the honors; the presentation was ceremonial and intended to acknowledge lifesaving performance by county responders.
