Corrections Officer

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

9/25/1960

Special Act Award (Gold)

In July 1960, Correctional Officer Harold S. Jacob saved an entire crew of inmate firefighters during a fire at Wefferling Campsite Number 2. Correctional Officer Jacob and his inmate crew were completely surrounded by fire moving in the direction of their campsite. Realizing no exit was available and a campsite burn- through was inevitable, Correctional Officer Jacob ordered the men to wet down their bodies as much as possible and station themselves in a circle, some prone, some in a hands and knees position. In this manner, Correctional Officer Jacob and his crew fought the fire as it swept through them and prevented any personal injury to the crew.