Automobile Fire Rescue

Firefighter Arthur Burgess was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 101 headed toward home in Santa Maria. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) had dispatched a unit to investigate reports of a “wrong-way” vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.

The “wrong-way” vehicle was a Ford Explorer that collided with a Dodge Caravan. Occupants of both vehicles were trapped, and the driver of the Caravan apparently died upon impact. The Explorer began to burn as fuel leaked onto the ground from its tank and/or fuel lines.

Firefighter Burgess rounded the bend and saw the two vehicles with flames coming from the engine compartment of the Explorer. He drove past the scene and parked on the median north of the incident, then quickly ran to the scene and sized up the situation.

Firefighter Burgess evaluated the driver of the Explorer as a critical patient and noticed a baby car seat in the vehicle. Firefighter Burgess identified himself to others at the scene as a firefighter and asked them to search for additional patients based on the presence of the baby car seat. He went to the Caravan and broke a rear window to reach in and open the vehicle. With Firefighter Burgess’ help, the passenger was able to safely exit the Caravan.

Firefighter Burgess noted that the fire in the Explorer was getting larger and turned his attention to the driver. He was able to partially pry the driver’s door open partway and found that the driver’s feet were trapped in the wreckage. Another rescuer reached in from the passenger side and released the seatbelt while Firefighter Burgess worked to free the victims feet. Firefighter Burgess pleaded with other bystanders to help him, but they shouted that the car would blow up. He told them that seldom happened anywhere except in the movies and a few approached. As they approached, a tire exploded and the bystanders scattered. Firefighter Burgess could only open the door about 45 degrees, but squeezed in to reach the driver’s feet. He tore pieces from the lower dashboard, injuring his hand and eventually freed the patient. He was aware that the fire was getting larger and was beginning to breach the firewall, but he continued to untangle the driver’s feet. Finally, Firefighter Burgess was able to remove the driver from the vehicle and place him a safe distance from the fire. Within a minute of the extrication, the passenger compartment of the Explorer was involved with fire.

Relieved of patient care by the CHP, Firefighter Burgess focused on the fire. He used the CHP Officer’s five-pound dry chemical extinguisher to attack the fire, but the extinguisher was not adequate to knock down the fire. A gasoline tanker truck had stopped south of the incident, and the driver provided a 20-pound extinguisher, which Firefighter Burgess used to attack the fire. Again, he was unable to extinguish the fire, but he was able to prevent the Caravan from becoming involved in the fire, and thus protect the body of the deceased driver.

The accident occurred where the approaching drivers could not see the accident until they were very close, causing many vehicles to suddenly swerve from the left lane to the right lane to avoid hitting the wreckage and rescuers.

Firefighter Burgess’ efforts resulted in two critical patients being extricated, the deceased body protected and the fire confined.

The Board of Honorary Awards determined that Firefighter Arthur Burgess performed an act of conspicuous heroism and/or bravery under extreme personal risk above and beyond the calculated personal risk demands of the Fire Service and is proud to honor him with the Medal of Valor.