Fairfax, VA, September 13, 2006- Assistant Fire Chief Timothy Ybarra, Firefighters Ramon Pravia, Jeronimo Enriquez, Javier Arellano and David Jiminez, and Driver/Operator Manuel Ramos have been selected as this year’s winners of the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor, co-sponsored by Motorola, Inc. and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). The award will be presented at the general session on Friday, September 15, 2006 at 8:30 am during Fire-Rescue International at the Dallas Convention Center.
For 37 years, the International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor has recognized firefighters around the world for their expert training, their loyalty to their profession and their dedication to saving lives.
On September 11, 2005, Engine-1 of the Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota Fire Department responded to a residential fire in the city of Rota, Spain. Asst. Chief Ybarra reported heavy black smoke and fire present on the ground floor of a three-story apartment complex; electrical power had failed and there were no emergency lights. Ybarra immediately called a second alarm. In the meantime, with only four firefighters, Engine-1 raised ladders to the second and third floors; many people were trapped on the upper floors by the blaze and intense smoke.
While awaiting the fire chief and Engine-2, Asst. Chief Ybarra directed rescue efforts and physically led victims to safety. Firefighter Arellano and Jiminez knocked down the main body of fire, then located and rescued three victims and led them to safety. Firefighter Jiminez also discovered an infant and immediately turned her over to EMS personnel, but the infant later died. Firefighter Pravia helped nine victims escape the smoke and flames from the second floor, continuing after sustaining a severe neck and spine injury until he was overcome by pain. Firefighter Enriquez single-handedly rescued 16 people from a third-floor window. After assisting with raising a 35-foot ladder, Driver/Operator Ramos placed and charged the second hose line.
These six firefighters accomplished a miracle with minimal resources and without regard for self-preservation. In nominating Team Rota for the award, Ricky Brockman, Assistant Program Manager for U.S. Navy Fire & Emergency Services, said, “With insufficient manpower and equipment and no other options, these brave firefighters unselfishly risked their lives to save as many people as humanly possible, fully knowing that they could become victims themselves. NAVSTA Rota’s firefighters knew what had to be done and did it without personal regard.”
Each individual on this team was awarded the Navy Fire and Emergency Services Life Saving Award. They have also been selected as winners of the 2005 Navy Firefighter Heroism Award. They will compete for the Department of Defense-level award, with the winners to be announced later this month.
About the International Association of Fire Chiefs The International Association of Fire Chiefs is the professional association for senior fire and emergency service leaders around the world, with a membership of nearly 13,000 fire chiefs and associated officials. An international organization, the IAFC counts among its members representatives from more than 30 countries, including Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Ghana.
The mission of the IAFC is to provide leadership to career and volunteer chiefs, chief fire officers and managers of emergency service organizations throughout the international community through vision, information, education, services and representation to enhance their professionalism and capabilities.
For more information, go to www.iafc.org.