Warden

Department of Fish and Wildlife

7/23/2007

Special Service Award (Silver)

At 5:00 pm on July 23, 2007, California Department of Fish and Game Warden Josh Brennan was on a routine foot patrol near the town of Paradise in rural Butte County, when he saw a man down in the canyon and partially submerged in the river. Using hundreds of feet of rope, he climbed down the steep canyon to the west branch of the Feather River, where he pulled the man out of the water and onto the shore. The man was intoxicated and unconscious. Unable to make contact with his dispatch from his portable radio, he climbed back up the canyon wall to his truck to request assistance. Despite the 100 degree temperatures, Warden Brennan climbed down the canyon wall to monitor the man’s health and wait for the rescue helicopter. A short time later, the helicopter crew arrived, but quickly determined rescue was impossible due to the steep conditions of the canyon.

To assist Warden Brennan, Kent Harrison, a Patrol Lieutenant with the Department of Fish and Game, arrived, and Warden Brennan again climbed up and down the canyon wall to meet the Lieutenant, brief him on the situation and direct him back to the scene. Because night-time rope system rescue is dangerous and due to the heavy intoxication of the man, Warden Brennan and Lieutenant Harrison decided it was safer to remain on site until morning. Both stayed awake throughout the night to monitor the man’s health and safety. At 5:00 the next morning, they again climbed the canyon wall and brought the man to safety.