Fire Fighter II

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

5/9/2007

Special Act Award (Gold)

On May 9, 2007, at 10:30 p.m., units from the Riverside County Fire Department, Indio Fire Service, responded to a fire at a strip mall in the City of Indio. The company officer ordered the crew to enter the rear of the strip mall to evaluate fire conditions. The firefighters discovered that the fire had extended to all of the stores and observed that the concealed space overhead had heavy black smoke running the length of the strip mall. As a result, the commander ordered a withdrawal. CAL FIRE Firefighter Ignacio “Chopper” Otero, Jr. and Firefighter Mark Grasso immediately positioned themselves to aggressively attack the main fire and provide protection to the firefighters who were withdrawing from the interior and roof areas. Soon thereafter, the facade and portions of the concealed space overhead cracked and broke away from the section of the building engulfed in fire. The portion of the building that failed gave no notice of structural failure and was approximately 60 feet in length and 5 feet in height. Firefighter Otero, without hesitation, yelled to his Captain and partner, and without concern for his own well being, grabbed Firefighter Grasso and moved him to safety. As the facade of the building was falling, Firefighter Otero placed himself between Firefighter Grasso and the portion of the building that was falling. It struck Firefighter Otero, causing him injuries that required treatment at a hospital, but he saved Firefighter Grasso’s life.