Fire Apparatus Engineer/Paramedic

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

1/19/2004

Special Act Award (Gold)

On July 19, 2004, CDF Fire Apparatus Engineer Patti K. West performed an act of heroism risking her own personal safety during the Foothill Fire when she led seven firefighters to safety whose position was threatened by swiftly approaching wildfire. While performing a routine hose duty with part of her strike team, Engineer West noticed a sudden column of smoke and immediately contacted the safety lookout but was unable to give the exact location. Realizing that danger was looming, she quickly determined her crew was in immediate danger of being burned over by fire and made the immediate decision to evacuate their position ordering her crew to follow her into a safety zone up the opposite ridge in near 100-degree temperature. Minutes later an intense fire overran the entire area. As members became fatigues and attempted to sit down, she made them get up and encouraged them to continue to escape further in to the safety zone. Engineer West’s crew remained cut off from their fire engines for over two hours before it was safe to exit the hillside. Although Engineer West’s primary escape route was cut off and prevented an escape, she had a secondary escape route predetermined.