HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - On Friday, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi presented 18 Honolulu Emergency Medical Service members with the City’s Valor Awards for their response during the deadly New Year’s fireworks explosion in Aliamanu .

The explosion on Keaka Drive on New Year’s Day claimed six lives and injured more than 20 people.

The city said EMS mobilized 10 ambulances with crews, two EMS district chiefs, the EMS chief, and both the director and deputy of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department (HESD). Several EMS personnel were off-duty when they responded to the call.

HESD director Jim Ireland commended the Valor Award recipients at the Mayor’s Annual Awards Ceremony.

“The scene was unimaginable to respond to, and it will stay with many of us forever,” he said. “I am proud o

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