Firefighter awarded highest honor after off-duty avalanche rescue

Firefighter awarded highest honor after off-duty avalanche rescue

TRUCKEE, Calif. — The room at Tuesday night’s Truckee Fire Protection District board meeting looked a little different than usual. Rows of uniformed firefighters lined the space, gathering to recognize one of their own. Firefighter paramedic Ben Westmoreland was awarded the department’s highest honor for his actions following a Jan. 5 avalanche near Castle Peak. Westmoreland had been off duty when he came upon the aftermath of an avalanche on th…