Fire Captain

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

4/30/2001

Special Act Award (Gold)

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fire Captain Felipe Gomez, on April 30, 2001, performed an act of heroism at risk to his personal safety by entering a school bus to rescue the trapped bus driver, which was impacted by a utility pickup truck in a traffic accident and fully engulfed in flames. At approximately 7:15 a.m., on April 30, 2001, while on his way to report to his duty station in Mendota, Fire Captain Gomez witnessed a vehicle accident involving a Central Unified School District bus and a utility pickup. Upon impact, the utility pickup burst into flames. Fire Captain Gomez knew that a North Central Fire Station with paramedics was located 300 feet west of the accident, and quickly preceded to the station to notify firefighters of the situation. Fire Captain Gomez then returned directly to the scene of the accident. The utility pickup was fully engulfed in flames, which were impinging on the driver's side of the bus. Several adults were helping the five school children out of the bus. Fire Captain Gomez noticed the bus driver, Lynette Zavala, was still in the driver's seat in the bus. When Fire Captain Gomez approached the passenger door, he noticed Ms. Zavala was still moving. He was unable to open the passenger door, but was able to crawl through the door under the broken handle and enter the bus. Smoke and heat filled the upper portion of the bus. Fire Captain Gomez was unable to pull Ms. Zavala from the seat and instead, had to stand up to lift her out of the seat and placed her on the floor. After he exited the bus through a different exit, and returned to pull Ms. Zavala through the opening of the passenger door. Two bystanders assisted Fire Captain Gomez and moved Ms. Zavala to a safe area where he stayed with her to keep her calm and maintain her airway until paramedics took over.

Ms. Zavala had burns on her upper torso, arms and face. Soon after paramedics took over Fire Captain Gomez became physically ill, was placed on oxygen and transported to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. Ms. Zavala suffered burns over 65% of her body, multiple broken bones and other injures and unfortunately passed away a few days after the accident.