Lori Martin
State Park Superintendent
Department of Parks and Recreation
7/26/2018
Special Service Award (Silver)
![Lori Martin](images/photos/913_MartinLori_Special%20Service%20Award%20(Silver)_2021_20220321.jpg)
On the evening of July 26, 2018, Superintendent Lori Martin, who was in charge of Shasta State Historic Park, had already been working the destructive Carr Fire for a couple of days. During this devastating fire, she tirelessly worked to protect the park and all of its irreplaceable artifacts and collections.
Due to the speed and unpredictable nature of the Carr Fire, officers were unable to get teams safely into the park to evacuate the priceless collections. Public Safety Chief Aaron Wright watched Superintendent Martin fight the fire as it came into Shasta Historic Park, and advised her of just how bad the fire was getting. He told her she should leave before she was trapped. She said she would but first had to coordinate the activities of the firefighters who were battling the blaze.
Chief Wright left to get other staff out and, when returned, found Superintendent Martin still fighting the fire. Everyone, including the firefighters, was ordered out. Yet, even after all the other firefighters were evacuated, Superintendent Martin was still fighting the fire to protect the buildings. He told her to leave the area for her safety. She said, with a determined resolve and a complete disregard for her own safety, that she had to protect the collections. Finally, after some discussion, she reluctantly agreed to leave until the fire’s intensity lessened. Her passion and dedication to protecting this park will never be forgotten.
Superintendent Martin bravely helped fight the Carr Fire at Shasta State Historic Park. The fire, one of the largest in California history, started on July 23, 2018, and burned more than 229,000 acres in Shasta and Trinity counties. It took three lives and destroyed almost 2,000 structures. The work necessary to fight the fire and protect the important historical collections at Shasta State Historic Park required long days in dangerous conditions.
Superintendent Martin helped save most of the park, including all of the state’s irreplaceable collections and artifacts.
With no regard for her own safety, Superintendent Martin went above and beyond the call of duty.
The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Silver Medal of Valor to Department of Parks and Recreation State Park Superintendent Martin.