Fire Fighter I

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

8/29/2006

Special Act Award (Gold)

On August 29, 2006, at 3:00 p.m., CAL FIRE then Fire Apparatus Engineer and now Fire Captain William J. Smith, Firefighter I Kelley C. DeGifford and Firefighter I Jacklyn D. Bowes were dispatched to a vegetation fire in the vicinity of Newport and Fish Hatchery Roads in Riverside. Homes on the north end of Newport Road were threatened by the fire and there were numerous reports of a woman trapped in her home. An off-duty San Bernardino Sheriff’s Deputy approached the CAL FIRE Commander and identified himself as the son of the woman trapped in her home. The CAL FIRE Commander told the son that an engine was on its way and to not go up to the home. The son ignored the instructions and went to the house where he found his mother. As Fire Apparatus Engineer Smith and Firefighters DeGifford and Bowes arrived at the residence, he noticed that the rapidly spreading fire had cut off their escape route. He instructed the son and mother to take refuge inside the house, and the Engine Crew would shelter them with water from their hoses until the fire passed. Fire Apparatus Engineer Smith had approximately 30 seconds to get the victims inside the house and get the hoses ready before the fire hit the house.

Firefighter DeGifford sprayed along the south side of the house to protect it from the fire. Firefighter Bowes and Fire Apparatus Engineer Smith attempted to spray a second hose but were unable to do so because of the extreme heat from the attic vents. Fire Apparatus Engineer Smith entered the house and evacuated the occupants from the burning house and brought them to safety. Their actions saved the woman and her son’s life.