Heavy Fire Equipment Operator

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

11/18/2018

Special Act Award (Gold)

On November 8, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Joe Kennedy responded to the Camp Fire in Paradise. As Mr. Kennedy arrived in Paradise the fire was establishing itself along the Pentz Road corridor with hundreds of residents, patients and employees of Feather River Hospital trying to flee the area. Engine 2390 with Captain John Jessen and two firefighters became stuck in traffic along with dozens of other vehicles on Pearson Road near Dry Creek. Captain Jessen ordered air support, but conditions were too extreme. Then over the radio came the request, “Can we get a dozer to move cars on Pearson Road?” Joe Kennedy was nearby on Dozer 2342. Since all roads were jammed with traffic, he drove the dozer through back yards to get to Pearson Road from the hospital. As he was heading towards Pearson Road, he encountered a California Highway Patrol officer and nurses trying to escape the fire on foot. The visibility was extremely limited and the CHP officer waved his flashlight to get Mr. Kennedy’s attention. When Mr. Kennedy stopped the dozer to see what was happening, the nurses got into the dozer. Mr. Kennedy explained he didn’t have room for the two of them inside the dozer and directed them to get into the fire engine directly behind him. Engine 2362 took the nurses and the CHP officer back to the temporary refuge area set up at the hospital helipad. Traffic was at a standstill on Pearson Road throughout the Dry Creek drainage, which was burning under strong winds with the flames consuming brush, timber, structures and vehicles. Dry Creek is a deep ravine and acts as a chimney for fires. Vehicles two and three across were all facing west trying to get to Skyway and out of town. The vehicles on Pearson Road that were nearest the ravine were catching fire as the wildland fire burned intensely in the drainage. It would not be long before the cars in the middle and right side also caught fire. As it was, people had bailed out of the burning cars and taken refuge in cars further from the flames. If something was not done soon, there could be more fatalities. Mr. Kennedy used the dozer to push cars off the road, opening a path for the remaining vehicles and allowing the trapped vehicles to escape the flames, saving many lives. With no regard for his own safety, Mr. Kennedy went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting the Gold Medal of Valor to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Joe Kennedy.