Staff report Dakota County honored Hastings firefighter Ryan McGraw with a Citizen Lifesaving Award. He was credited for heroic acts that helped save two lives during a 2019 incident in Marshan Township.

McGraw forced his way into a garage and freed two people from a running car in the garage and worked to revive them. According to the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office,”On December 30, 2019, deputies were dispatched to an address in Marsha Township on a report of a vehicle running inside of a closed garage. When Hastings firefighter Ryan McGraw arrived, he could hear a vehicle running in the garage. Without hesitation, Mr. McGraw grabbed a crowbar and was able to force the door open. He helped drag the male victim from the garage and began lifesaving efforts. While this was going on, another victim was located inside of the vehicle. The passenger door was wedged shut so Mr. McGraw went in and backed out the vehicle so the other victim could be extricated. He helped with lifesaving efforts on that victim also. Without the fast action and bravery of Mr. McGraw, both victims likely would not have survived.”