Black Hawk firefighter honored

Lynn Volkens

02/22/2007 - Black Hawk Firefighter Lee Nida was the recipient of a commendation and the City’s “heartiest congratulations” at the Black Hawk Council meeting of February 14^th. Mayor David Spellman made the presentation to recognize Nida for his part in a perilous rescue effort on January 23, 2007.

  Off-duty, Nida was on his way home from Black Hawk to the metro area traveling U.S. Highway 6 when a driver ahead lost control. The car toppled through the icy crust of Clear Creek landing topsy-turvy in the frigid waters. Inside, the elderly woman driving and her male passenger were injured and trapped. Nida entered the freezing waters to assist Colorado State Patrol with the rescue and was credited for his part in the successful effort to save their lives.

  “I just happened to be the one who was there,” he said later in an interview at Black Hawk Fire Station. “This is actually something that any of my brothers or sisters at Black Hawk Fire Department would do. There’s not one other person here who would not put themselves in danger for the well-being of others. It’s just one of the reasons I’m proud to work at Black Hawk.”

  Nida has been with BHFD for five years. He described the department as “one team for life safety.” Life safety is exactly what it came down to that bitter January day. Nida said he figured the odds of the couple surviving without the immediate rescue were pretty slim. “They should not have lived,” he said, recalling the severity of the accident. Both are doing well now, he reported.