On Tuesday, February 17th the Fire Commission presented New Canaan Firefighter Michael Sasser with a letter of commendation.  
The commendation was for the rescue M. Sasser made on the Parkway last week. While off-duty, Sasser came upon a SUV that was on its roof and burning. The unconscious driver was still inside the SUV. Mike and his father Duffy Sasser, with the help of others removed the unconscious driver from the SUV saving from him serious possibly fatal injuries.

 
Fairfield Fire Department Press Release:
 
The Westport and Fairfield Fire Departments responded to a single vehicle car fire involving a rollover and entrapment of the driver. The vehicle was a Chevrolet Trailblazer traveling Northbound on the Merritt Parkway between Exits 42 and 44 in the area of the Redding Road overpass. The vehicle hit a tree, rolled over and started to burn. Two unidentified persons passing by were able to pull the driver from the vehicle as it started to burn. The patient was transferred to American Medical Response Ambulance for transfer to Saint Vincent’s hospital in Bridgeport. The extent of the driver’s injuries are unknown at this time.
 
Fairfield Fire Department had the initial attack line on the fire. Westport Fire Department used fire fighting foam to extinguish the intense blaze. Westport responded with two engines, one Rescue and the Shift Commander’s vehicle. A Department of Transportation sand truck was called to the scene to spread sand on the icy roadway.
 
The Merritt Parkway was closed to all Northbound traffic for approximately one hour.
 
The last Fire Department cleared the scene at 2157 hours.