Group honors firefighter for river rescue effort

The Sons of the American Revolution Spokane Chapter No. 1 gave its annual commendation medal to Spokane Valley firefighter Dave Griffiths on Friday.

Griffiths is the firefighter who was lowered through a hole cut in the Barker Street Bridge to rescue a woman who was stranded there, holding on to the bridge after her raft capsized.

“We try to find someone who does something unusual,” said Neil Hyde, chairman of the selection committee. “We try to find someone who is on the ground, who’s actually doing the job.”

Griffiths received a medal and a certificate at a reception Friday at the Old Country Buffet on North Division Street.

“It was very nice to meet him and his family,” Hyde said.

Hyde said the Sons of the American Revolution picks one person every year – a law enforcement officer, a judge or, as in this case, a firefighter – who is to be commended for doing a good job.

In past years, a detective from the Spokane Police Department and a deputy sheriff have received the award, which is not open for nominations.

“We’re pretty independent; we like to run our own business,” Hyde said.