Carl Schwettman, Jr.
Fire Captain
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
10/21/2007
Special Act Award (Gold)
On October 21, 2007, Fire Captain Carl Schwettmann, Jr. was assisting with medical treatment to a CAL FIRE crew that had been flown to the station with severe injuries from the Harris Fire near the town of Potrero. Captain Schwettmann was told that a firefighter was missing and presumed dead. Captain Schwettmann decided that he would go to the fire burn area to search for the missing firefighter. He left the station and drove 1 ½ miles through intense heat and smoke to the burn area that only moments earlier was impassable due to the extreme fire. Upon locating the burn site, he left his pickup, and despite intense radiant heat and heavy smoke, began a methodical search of the area, calling out for the missing firefighter.
The missing firefighter, having all but given up hopes of a rescue, heard Captain Schwettmann calling his name, and despite his extreme pain, walked out from behind the cover of a rock outcropping.
He had lost his fire shelter as a result of the 50 mile per hour Santa Ana winds and had suffered severe burn injuries. Captain Schwettmann assessed that the Firefighter had 2nd degree burns to his face, back and legs in excess of 20% of his body. Realizing his injuries were serious and life threatening, Captain Schwettmann called for a helicopter. After securing his fellow Firefighter in the helicopter, Captain Schwettmann continued his search in the area for additional personnel or civilians who might also have been injured. Captain Schwettmann’s heroic actions were responsible for saving the life of a fellow firefighter whose burns could have been fatal with continued exposure to the radiant heat from the fire. Instead, he made a full recovery from his injuries and has returned to duty.
He had lost his fire shelter as a result of the 50 mile per hour Santa Ana winds and had suffered severe burn injuries. Captain Schwettmann assessed that the Firefighter had 2nd degree burns to his face, back and legs in excess of 20% of his body. Realizing his injuries were serious and life threatening, Captain Schwettmann called for a helicopter. After securing his fellow Firefighter in the helicopter, Captain Schwettmann continued his search in the area for additional personnel or civilians who might also have been injured. Captain Schwettmann’s heroic actions were responsible for saving the life of a fellow firefighter whose burns could have been fatal with continued exposure to the radiant heat from the fire. Instead, he made a full recovery from his injuries and has returned to duty.