Hollyridge Fire

A full alarm assignment rolled onto the city streets to a reported structure fire in the hills just below the famous Hollywood Sign.  What firefighters found upon arrival was a three-story single family-dwelling with heavy smoke showing on the top floor.

Pressurized smoke and fire bellowed from the attic vents as Firefighters arrived on scene and began to stretch a firefighting hose into the involved home.  Truck 35 arrived on scene and was given the responsibility of laddering and ventilation.  Apparatus Operator David Rogers and Firefighters Rio Hernandez and Thomas Nyberg ascended the roof and donned their face-pieces to encounter heavy smoke at the parapet. 

The three-member team knew that vertical ventilation had to be accomplished, but conditions on the roof were deteriorating.  Ventilation holes were successfully cut into the roof and a decision was made to make further ventilation attempts.  Captain Joseph Castro had now joined his crew in the center of the virtual firestorm.

In an effort to make the additional ventilation hole, Firefighter Hernandez began sounding with his axe (which is done to assure the stability on the roof) and stepped toward the area to be cut.  Believing that the roof was solid, his next sound of the axe broke through the roof and Firefighter Hernandez found himself literally swallowed into the attic space up to his chest.  Firefighter Hernandez was surrounded by heavy fire that vented from the hole.  Seeing what had transpired, Apparatus Operator Rogers moved toward Firefighter Hernandez and grabbed him by the shoulder of his turnout coat.  Apparatus Operator Rogers too partially broke through the roof as he pulled Hernandez back to the ridge of the roof while attempting to pull him out.

Now the rest of Truck 35 moved into life-saving acts of bravery.  Engineer Peralta saw Apparatus Operator Rogers’ effort to pull Hernandez from the flames and grabbed Rogers to help pull him from certain death. 

Captain Castro also positioned himself in the inferno to keep all of them from falling deeper into the involved attic.  All believed that they were sliding into the fire.  Firefighter Nyberg was the final team member to risk his life to help save the others. All the members refused to let go of each other.  With Captain Castro encouraging his crew through a team effort, Apparatus Operator Rogers and Hernandez were pulled from the burning attic and away from the fire.  Firefighter Nyberg used his protective glove hand to put out Firefighter Hernandez’s clothing, which was on fire.  It was estimated Firefighter Hernandez and Apparatus Operator Rogers were trapped in heavy fire for 15 to 30 seconds. 

Captain Joseph Castro, Apparatus Operator David Rogers, Engineer Raymund Peralta and Firefighter Thomas Nyberg were aware of the great risk they were willing to expose themselves to.  They all believed that the roof was giving way and that they would either end up in the attic spaces or fall through to the burning floor below.  They acted with great courage and disregard for their own safety to save the life of a fellow firefighter.  It is with great pride that all four members are presented the Medal of Valor.