Caltrans Equipment Operator II

Department of Transportation

7/14/2012

Special Act Award (Gold)

On July 14, 2012, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Caltrans Equipment Operator II David Guerena was listening to his police scanner when he heard a call go out regarding a structure fire behind his home in Atascadero. He immediately ran out of his house and saw smoke and flames coming from an adjacent apartment complex. Mr. Guerena ran to the complex to help and, while en route, heard two very loud explosions coming from the burning building. Once on scene, a young man told him his mother was still inside one of apartments. The fire department had not yet arrived. Mr. Guerena ran to the door and tried to make contact with the young man’s mother. Arming himself with a small fire extinguisher he found hanging on the wall, Mr. Guerena could make out the figure of a woman a few feet ahead of him in the room, however when he called out to her, she appeared disorientated. The front room was filled with smoke and flames were shooting over his head. He used the fire extinguisher to clear a path between her and the doorway and continued to call out to her. When she came within reach, he grabbed her. As Mr. Guerena and the woman passed through the door, a third and noticeably stronger explosion sent fire and debris directly over their heads. Mr. Guerena escorted the woman to a safe place, and her son and neighbors cared for her.