GAITHERSBURG, Md. (WUSA9) -- Officials who responded the scene of the Gaithersburg plane crash were honored on Friday.
The first responders received recognition at Montgomery County's 41st Annual Public Safety Awards.
The awards recognize men and women in public service who displayed exceptional acts of courage in the last year.
The plane crash in Gaithersburg on December 8th claimed the lives of six people, including Marie and her young sons, Cole and Devin who were at the home when the plane hit their house.
Within minutes of the crash, police officers, firefighters and other first responders flooded the area, moving quickly to extinguish the fire and search for survivors.
Montgomery County Police Officer Michael Simpson was among the first to arrive on the scene.
"We heard the call go out for a plane into a house, we've probably never heard that before, so as many units as were available started rushing that way," Simpson described.
When Simpson arrived the house was engulfed in flames.
"I went into the garage cleared out a way for the fire department who was coming very quickly behind me, kicked out the garage door and had to be turned back by intense smoke and flame," Simpson explained.
"We knew that we had a rescue to be made and you do the best you can in the circumstances but with the jet fuel and the structure damage of the house, there wasn't a lot that we could do initially until more firefighters got on the scene," one first responder said.
All the officials recognized Friday said they were honored to receive the award but they shared it with all their fellow public servants who responded to the scene of the crash.
"If it wasn't for the quick response of fire and rescue, if it wasn't for all the other units there...we couldn't have gotten there as fast as we did. I just wish we could have done more," Simpson stated.
Ken Gemmel, the man who lost his wife and two sons in the crash issued a statement praising the responders for their efforts on Friday:
"I am pleased that the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce has recognized the great efforts of the various divisions of Montgomery County Pubic Safety made on the day of the tragedy. I have nothing but respect for what they tried to do that day and I am proud of their outstanding efforts especially considering how dire the situation had become for themselves."
