Heavy Fire Equiptment Operator

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

2/21/1980

Special Act Award (Gold)

On February 21, 1980, Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Dan Angel performed an extraordinary act of heroism at great risk to his own safety and life by saving the lives of three persons. At approximately 2:15 a.m. , State Forest Ranger II Moises Estrada received a phone call from a Caltrans dispatcher requesting assistance for three Caltrans employees stranded in a vehicle by flood waters on the Puerto La Cruz Creek. Forest Ranger Estrada summoned Dan Angel and proceeded to the incident location. Upon arrival they found a Caltrans truck stalled in a fast moving flood waters approximately four feet deep. Dan Angel immediately tied the end of a 150 foot rope around his waist, secured it to the sedan and proceeded into the swift current. He soon realized the rope was too short to reach the stranded Caltrans employees and signaled Ranger Estrada to drive the sedan partially into the raging creek. Upon safely reaching the stranded vehicle and employees, Mr. Angel tied the rope to the truck and instructed the employees to make their way to safely along the life line. As the members of the stranded party and Mr. Angel made their way to safety, the roadbed began disintegrating leaving a deep chasm very close to where the vehicle was stalled.