Firefighter I

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

5/22/2008

Special Act Award (Gold)

On May 22, 2008, the crew on Engine 1675 was assigned to Division “O” on the Summit fire, which was burning in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. At approximately 9:45 am, the crew was requested to go to a residence on Dove Lane to search for a previously evacuated resident who was last seen running back up his driveway toward his residence. Despite great personal risk, the crew drove to the residence. The fire was “crowning” and burning intensely in the heavy vegetation on both sides of the access road, and the winds were blowing at 40 to 50 miles per hour. When the crew arrived at the residence driveway, the flames were so intense that they could not drive any further, so they backed up to a safe area and positioned the engine for a quick evacuation. Captain Gibble instructed Firefighter Efflandt to stay with the engine to act as a lookout for increased fire behavior and other hazards while he and Firefighters Hollowell and Blythe headed up the driveway on foot to search for the missing resident. Exposed to intense heat and smoke from the burning residence and with nearby propane tanks venting and blowing up in ground-shaking explosions, the crew retreated from the residence only after a thorough search of the area and repeated attempts to garner a response from the resident failed. It was later determined that the resident had fled to safety. The crew from Engine 1675 is to be commended for their dedication to duty and service despite the great danger to their personal safety. The State of California takes great pride in presenting Fire Captain Rick Lee Gibble, and Firefighters Steven W. Blythe, Kyle Efflandt, and Ryan Hollowell, these Gold Medals of Valor for their extraordinary acts of heroism extending far above and beyond the normal call of duty or service.