Alfonso Moreno
Fire Apparatus Operator
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
12/8/2020
Special Service Award (Silver)
![Alfonso Moreno](images/photos/926_MorenoAlfonso_Special%20Service%20Award%20(Silver)_2022_20221213.jpeg)
On the morning of December 8, 2020, Fire Apparatus Engineer Alfonso “Al” Moreno responded to a house fire in Indio. As the fire intensified, conditions quickly deteriorated and all firefighters were ordered to evacuate the building. During the retreat, there was a partial roof collapse and other fire conditions that separated the firefighters from each other and the hose line. Engineer Moreno heard a “MAYDAY” call over the radio. Realizing a missing firefighter was still inside of the building, he returned to the burning structure to assist in the rescue.
Engineer Moreno entered the home under extremely heavy fire conditions. He quickly located the trapped firefighter, who was in severe distress, thrashing about in the den disoriented. Engineer Moreno wrestled the injured firefighter to the floor and tried to orient him to the hose line and out to safety.
During the next several moments of confusion, an additional firefighter came to assist in the rescue. Due to the extreme fire conditions, Engineer Moreno was mistaken for the missing firefighter and was forcefully removed from the building. Engineer Moreno was drug out of the building and into the front yard, where he was able to identify that he was not the missing firefighter. Engineer Moreno quickly situated his gear, saw that he was injured, but still charged back towards the structure to assist in the rescue.
However, by this time, a Fire Captain and several other firefighters had removed the severely burned and injured firefighter. Engineer Moreno assisted in the injured firefighter’s treatment. Unaware of the severity of his injures, Engineer Moreno even drove the ambulance to the hospital to allow additional paramedics to attend to the victim.
With no regard for his own safety, Mr. Moreno went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting the Silver Medal of Valor to Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fire Apparatus Engineer Alfonso Moreno.