Batallion Chief

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

10/26/2003

Special Act Award (Gold)

On October 26, 2003, at approximately 2:45 a.m., Battalion Chief O’Leary directed resources to evaluate residents in the Yellow Brick and Cool Valley area, around Fire Station 73, North Lake Wohlford and Paradise Mountain Road. All available fire apparatus were involved in protecting the area surrounding Fire Station 73 and initiating rescues. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Battalion Chief Kevin O’Leary, performed an act of heroism extending far beyond the normal call of duty at risk to his own personal safety during the Paradise Fire when he entered a home that was well involved in flames to rescue an elderly occupant of the home. A search was made of the entire dwelling. As fire conditions inside the dwelling deteriorated, he found all exits involved with fire, and was only able to exit a bedroom window just seconds before the whole dwelling became engulfed. As he ran around the back of the home, he found the elderly female occupant attempting to free her many pinned up dogs. He convinced her to leave only after all the dogs were released and affected her escape. He then drove her and two other men to the Valley View Casino parking lot for temporary safety, and notifying people still in their vehicles on the access road to return to the casino too. Battalion Chief O’Leary was able to convince hundreds of panicked people who were attempting to flee the fire on top of Paradise Mountain Road to turn around and re-locate at the Sky Line Mobile Home Park. Both roadways off this development were compromised and would only result in many burn victims. Battalion Chief O’Leary’s quick rescue actions and command of a multitude of residents in the area under extremely dangerous fire conditions contributed to the rescue of the elderly woman and her dogs still inside her home, and the subsequent relocation of additional potential victims to safety.