Fire Captain

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

7/18/1984

Special Act Award (Gold)

Fire Captains Dan Ward, John Robbins and Dave Harden, on July 18, 1984, performed extraordinary acts of heroism at great risk to their own personal safety and lives while rescuing a volunteer fireman who had fallen down a 35-foot embankment into an uncovered mine shaft while fighting a wildland fire on Carson Hill in Calaveras County. At approximately 12:09 am these men responded to and emergency call that a man was in a mine shaft. Despite burning debris and rocks falling into the shaft, Captain Harden rappelled down the dark, smoke-filled shaft to the victim 50 feet below, who was clinging to a fingerhold crevice in total darkness. Although Captain Harden was able to get a line around the victim, he began to slip further down the shaft of unknown depth. Captain Harden grabbed the victim’s hand and yelled for assistance. Fire Captain Robbins, wearing a headlamp, rappelled down the shaft and, after considerable effort, the two men were able to lower the victim to the bottom of the shaft. Fire Captain Ward had also joined the rescue effort and was located some 20 feet down the shaft where he could act as a communication and equipment relay. Despite extremely hazardous conditions caused by smoke and falling debris, these men protected the victim until rigging could be set up to remove the severely injured fireman, almost three hours after he had fallen into the shaft. Because of their prolonged stay in the mine shaft, Fire Captains Harden, Robbins and Ward suffered from smoke inhalation, exhaustion, stress and hypothermia, requiring medical treatment.