Fire Captain

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

2/2/1998

Special Act Award (Gold)

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fire Captain Tom Oldag, Fire Apparatus Engineer Paramedics Sean Norman, James Mathias and Branson 'Skip' Ratsep on February 2, 1998 and February 3, 1998, performed an act of heroism at risk to their personal safety when they took part in the rescue of numerous citizens stranded in their homes and cars surrounded by rising flood waters. On Monday, during a 17-hour period from 5:30 p.m. February 2, 1998 to 10:30 a.m. on February 3, 1998 at Pescadero CDF Station 59, Captain Tom Oldag, Fire Apparatus Engineer Paramedics Sean Norman, James Mathias, and Skip Ratsep, assisted by mutual aid from Half Moon Bay Fire District took part in the rescue of 16 citizens, ages 9 months to 86 years old, who were trapped in the top story of a two story apartment complex. In order to rescue the last five victims from the flooded apartment complex, it was necessary to bore through a wall in order to access the victims. The victims had to be taken out with 200 feet of rescue line through a strong current while (the rescuers) being careful to avoid numerous floating objects including vehicles, furniture, parts of homes and debris and propane tanks during the rescue operations. In addition to rescuing stranded citizens from the apartment complex, Engine 59 and Engine 1775's crew rescued numerous citizens stranded in their vehicles due to rising water on Pescadero Road. The waters had formed a lake on top of Pescadero Road that was 1/2 mile wide and two to five feet deep. Victims were being pulled up onto the CDF engine as their cars began to float away. Along with these victims, Engine 59 and Engine 1775 rescued additional citizens in town who were trapped by the rising flood waters. In all, Engine 59 and 1775 transported over 16 citizens through the floodwaters to the safety of the Pescadero Station. Without the heroic actions of these four gentlemen, lives would have been at risk and certainly lost.