Fire Captain

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

12/28/2007

Special Act Award (Gold)

On December 28, 2007, CAL FIRE Captain Eric R. Ayers was conducting routine business in Susanville when he heard an emergency dispatch that a passenger vehicle had lost control due to black ice on the road, traveled down a 30 foot embankment and landed upside down in approximately four feet of water in the Susan River. He notified the Emergency Command Center by radio that he was responding.As the first emergency responder to arrive, Captain Ayers quickly slid down the snow covered embankment, entered the icy water and swam to the vehicle, where he found a woman suspended upside down by her seatbelt with her head under water. While holding her head out of the water so she could breathe, Captain Ayers used his knife to cut the seatbelt loose, freed her from the vehicle, and assisted her back to the riverbank. Both were treated for hypothermia and released with no further injuries or complications.