Forester I

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

9/19/2009

Special Act Award (Gold)

On September 19, 2009, on a very hot and dry Southern California day in Riverside County, a brush fire started near State Route 79 and Sage Road east of Temecula. The fire spread rapidly, eventually burning over 340 acres and destroying eight homes. Firefighting conditions were extremely explosive with the temperature near 100ºF, winds blowing up to 19 miles per hour and flame lengths ranging from 60 to 90 feet high. CAL FIRE Copter 301 was flying a fire mission as an initial attack responding crew. On board was the pilot and CAL FIRE employees Captain Abril and Firefighters Connolly, DeLeon, Medina, Ricketts, and Santone. The crew was assigned to a hot spot in an attempt to contain the rapidly expanding fire. After landing, the crew began hot spotting the fire using hand tools. Shortly thereafter, the crew learned of a woman trapped in her home and surrounded by fire. Captain Abril immediately recognized he was near the location. The crew frantically began looking for and soon found a barefoot 84-year old woman carrying two dogs. The woman was standing in front of a residence that was fully involved with fire and frantically told the crew she didn’t know where to go or what to do. The crew immediately gave the woman a canteen of water and medically assessed her. Two firefighters entered a nearby residence and retrieved a blanket and pair of shoes for her. They shielded the woman with the blanket, assessed the best escape route, and at great personal risk to the woman and themselves, passed through fire and nearly blinding smoke conditions to a safer location. The actions of the crew, without regard for their personal safety, saved the life of the woman. The State of California takes great pride in presenting to Captain Frank Abril and Firefighters Eric Connolly, David DeLeon, Jose Medina, Adam Ricketts and Charles Santone, these Gold Medals of Valor for their extraordinary acts of heroism extending far above and beyond the normal call of duty or service.