Battalion Chief

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

12/12/2014

Special Act Award (Gold)

On December 12, 2014, at approximately 2:00 p.m., California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Battalion Chief John Messina was off duty and driving through Butte County when he heard a radio call describing people trapped in their vehicle by floodwaters. Chief Messina was close to the location and arrived five minutes later to find a flooded roadway and a submerged vehicle with three adults and a small child on top. Chief Messina advised them over his PA system to stay where they were as help was on its way, but the vehicle, swept by the force of the swift moving water, suddenly started moving downstream into the main channel of the Honcut Creek. The terrified victims screamed they could not swim. Chief Messina quickly weighed his options, and although floodwater has many dangers, entered the fast flowing water without a life jacket or personal protection equipment and swam 100 yards to the terrified victims. The submerged vehicle was hung up on a fence and trees, and starting to roll over on its side when Chief Messina arrived. He told the victims to hand him the child and jump from the vehicle. After assisting the victims from the top of the vehicle, he gathered them and swimming initially while holding the child, helped them get to higher ground. The CAL FIRE Butte County Swift Water Team and ambulance arrived and the victims were placed in the ambulance and treated for hypothermia.