Single-Family Dwelling Fire

Firefighter Brian Stires responded with his company to a reported structure fire at 6500 Goodland Avenue, North Hollywood. Upon their arrival, they found a single-family dwelling well involved with fire.

Fire conditions were becoming more intense and the dwelling’s structural integrity was deteriorating.  Firefighter Stires was told that an elderly woman was trapped in the bedroom of the house.

The opportunity to make a rescue was rapidly diminishing and time became the enemy of any attempts to make a rescue.  Firefighter Stires independently initiated heroic actions in an attempt to save this 86-year old female trapped in her home.

With little regard for his own safety, Firefighter Stires dove through the only visible window that was not engulfed in flames.  He was focused on finding the trapped woman and fought intense heat and thick smoke in conditions of zero visibility.  He crawled through the room searching blindly, looking for the victim.  His sweeping arms contacted the woman’s body and he began pulling her to safety.  He was able to bring her lifeless body to the window ledge while other firefighters gathered outside the fire rimmed window.  Firefighter Stires lifted her over the window sill into the waiting arms of the firefighters who were able to pull her lifeless body from the bedroom that was just about to flashover in an incinerating fireball.

This display of bravery and heroism has clearly demonstrated an unselfish act at great personal risk to his own life. It is with great pride that Firefighter Brain Stires is presented the Medal of Valor.