Rep. Hernandez Honors Heroism of Cicero Firefighter

CICERO, Ill. — State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, and state Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside, presented Riverside resident and Cicero firefighter Lt. Brian Kulaga with a resolution commending his bravery and service during a fire emergency.

“Even when he was off-duty, Lt. Kulaga put himself in harm’s way to save the lives of others and help his fellow firefighters finish the job,” said Hernandez. “His actions clearly demonstrate courage and selflessness beyond the usual call of duty and our community is safer because of his service and dedication.”

In February 2021, Lt. Kulaga was off-duty and running errands for the firehouse when he noticed smoke coming from the apartments on the second floor of a local restaurant.  After alerting the employees, he rescued two apartment residents and helped the Lyons firefighters with hose lines as they responded to the fire. In recognition of these heroic actions, Lt. Kulaga was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Office of the State Fire Marshal earlier this month.