Fiscal Year 2002-2003

Class B Meritorious Conduct Award

 

On the afternoon of April 7, 2003, Engine 1 responded to a third alarm at 532 Green Street. Captain Gardner entered the fire building with his crew and ordered them to set up and advance a bundle up the stairs to the next floor where the fire had been raging out of control. While his crew was setting up, Captain Gardner climbed to the top of the stairs to assess the situation. Arriving there, he noticed an unconscious victim about 20 feet down the hallway. With no line, extreme heat conditions and almost no visibility, Captain Gardner crawled down the hallway, grabbed the victim and pulled her to safety.

Class C Meritorious Conduct Award

On the afternoon of August 13, 2002, Engine 14 and Battalion 7 were summoned to assist a citizen who had fallen from the cliffs near 32nd Avenue and El Camino Del Mar. The victim, who had been there since the day before, was 30 feet above the water and had suffered a broken femur. Because of the steep terrain and heavy brush, it was determined that lowering the victim to a small beach below would be the safest method of removal. FF Wong and Chief's Aide Riba swam from a National Park Service Zodiac to the extremely rocky shore, struggling against the persistent wave action. On shore, they secured buoys to the backboard and made a difficult swim back to the waiting N.P.S. Zodiac. After lifting the victim into the boat, they returned to shore to await their own removal upon the boat's return.

Class C Meritorious Conduct Award

On the afternoon of April 7, 2003, Engine 28 responded to a third alarm at 532 Green Street. Lt. Bernard Gibson and his crew arrived first on the scene and advanced a ready line to the fire floor. Upon entering and area with extremely high heat conditions and almost no visibility, they came upon two children who were unconscious and not breathing. FF Vincent Wong removed the 3-year-old child and FF William Chin removed the 4-1/2-year old. Through adverse conditions, the firefighters took the children down the stairs and handed them off to members of Rescue Squad 1. They then returned to their line to fight the fire.

Class C Meritorious Conduct Award

On the evening of April 7, 2003, Rescue Squad 2 was summoned to assist an extremely agitated citizen standing on a work platform about 3 feet below the roof line of a construction operation at 29th Street and Tiffany Avenue. FF Rivera was the first to reach him and observed the man had a broken bottle in his left hand and an intact bottle in his right. FF Rivera remained calm and tried to talk the man into coming down. As the man looked down to the newly broken bottle, FF Rivera leapt to the structure and held the man in a bear hug allowing the other members of his crew to disarm him.

Unit Citation

On the afternoon of April 7, 2003, Engine 28 responded to a third alarm at 532 Green Street. Lt. Bernard Gibson and his crew arrived first on the scene and advanced a ready line to the fire floor. Upon entering and area with extremely high heat conditions and almost no visibility, they came upon two unconscious children who were not breathing. FF Vincent Wong removed the 3-year-old child and FF William Chin removed the 4-1/2-year old. Through adverse conditions, the firefighters took the children down the stairs and handed them off to members of Rescue Squad 1. They then returned to their line to fight the fire.

Letter of Commendation

On the afternoon of April 7, 2003, Rescue Squad 1 responded to a third alarm at 532 Green Street. As the crew was ascending the stairs to the fire floor, they were met by FF Wong and FF Chin from Engine 28 who were descending with two children. Lt. Smerdel and FF Cochrane made a quick assessment to find that neither child was breathing and began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. They exited the building with the children and by the time they reached the ambulance, both children were breathing on their own.

Letter of Commendation

On the morning of April 22, 2003, FF Posey, while off duty, witnessed a civilian collapse at 2425 Geary Boulevard. He rushed to the victim's side and determined that he was in cardiac arrest. FF Posey began CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the victim began breathing on his own.