State Park Peace Officer Supervisor

Department of Parks and Recreation

11/9/2018

Special Act Award (Gold)

On the morning of November 9, 2018, State Park Peace Officer Supervisor Sergeant Travis Gee woke up at his residence in Paradise and saw the glow of the Camp Fire through his window. He got up and immediately responded to assist his community. He worked with State Park Peace Officer Sabrina Buis and together they helped evacuate hundreds of people who remained in burned-over areas in the Town of Paradise. While helping rescue and evacuate people, Sergeant Gee and Officer Buis came across flames and downed trees that blocked roadways, forcing them to find alternative routes to prevent the evacuees from being trapped by the swift-moving fire. At one point, they worked with a CalFire captain to cut down power lines and clear debris along Clark Road to rescue evacuees who were surrounded by fire. They were aware of the large number of lives that had already been lost and yet, bravely and tirelessly, put themselves in harm’s way to save others. Sergeant Gee worked to save members of the community even though he knew that his own home and the homes of his family members had already burned down. In addition, he did not know if his family had been able to safely evacuate. It wasn’t until later that he was able to confirm that all of his family members made it safely out of the area. With no regard for his own safety, Sergeant Gee 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 Parks and Recreation State Park Peace Officer Supervisor Sergeant Travis Gee.