OCFA Honors Its Best & Bravest Firefighters for 2017 in South OC

(Laguna Hills, CA) – They truly are the best and bravest.

Firefighters. Of all ranks, specialty and firehouse. From young fire explorers venturing into a lifetime of service to the public, to full-time professional career firefighters that have answered the call daily for decades, to reserve firefighters who are part-time firefighters that fulfill specific roles in the department. Each plays a vital role in the fire service profession.

In Orange County, California, firefighters are rising quickly in the public’s eye as a critical profession – more so than ever before, to keeping ourselves, our loved ones, our parents, our children, our pets, our homes (with each precious, irreplaceable memento and photograph)…safe.

After 2017, all of California owes everything we could possibly give to our fire service professionals. Who painstakingly attack each and every vegetation fire from the ground and air the moment a 911 call is placed.

Without hesitation. Without thoughts of themselves first. They go in when others run out.

Californians collectively witnessed the devastation wildfires caused to our precious State in 2017 alone – including the Northern California fires, the Canyon 1 & 2 fires and the massive, unrelenting Thomas Fire that ravaged Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties beginning in December and became the largest fire in California’s modern recorded history, according to inciweb.nwcg.gov.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES: UNPRECEDENTED FIRE BEHAVIOR IN CALIFORNIA FOR DECEMBER/JANUARY, EXPERTS SAY

“With the absence of any significant precipitation this fall/winter, fuels (i.e. chaparral, brush, tall grass) have become critically dry across much of Southern California,” according to inciweb.nwcg.gov January 23, 2018 in a Thomas Fire incident update. The Thomas Fire burned 281,893 acres throughout Ojai, Santa Paula, Ventura, Montecito, Carpenteria, Santa Barbara and Fillmore. “In addition, there has been a prolonged period of warm, dry and windy weather which has worked in concert with the lack of rainfall to produce catastrophic wildfires. The Thomas Fire is now the largest fire in California’s modern recorded history. This would be significant if it were summer; however, it is unprecedented for December and January, and it serves as a testimony to the extreme volatility of the fuels.”

Given California’s seemingly increasing vulnerability to such catastrophic wildfires – we owe more than we could ever give in compensation or say in words to the best and the bravest on the frontlines: firefighters.

ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY TAKES TIME OUT TO RECOGNIZE ITS FIREFIGHTERS, ORGANIZATIONAL STAFF FEBRUARY 23RD IN SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY

On Friday, February 23, 2018, the Orange County Fire Authority honored its’ Best & Bravest during a sold out elegant awards dinner ceremony held at the Pacific Hills Banquet Hall in Laguna Hills. The awards ceremony is OCFA’s annual tradition of recognizing OCFA firefighters and organizational staff that have gone ‘Above and Beyond’ the ‘Call of Duty’ over the past year.

“OCFA is extremely proud to partner with The National Exchange Club and Orange County Exchange Clubs in making this night possible for our firefighters,” said OCFA Captain PIO Steve Concialdi. “OCFA’s Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony is a significant event for our entire organization and the evening would not be possible without the steadfast support of the National and Orange County Exchange Clubs over the years. We thank each of them for their continued support.”

Concialdi added that OCFA’s “CAP” Committee (Ceremonies, Awards and Protocols Committee), works tirelessly – but enthusiastically, to put on a top-notch awards presentation for honorees and guests alike. The growing success of the Best & Bravest is a reflection of the pride and honor each CAP Committee member feels for OCFA and OCFA’s firefighters. From the venue, to the welcome reception, to the food, programs and flowers, it is an event close to the hearts of everyone involved. Even OCFA’s audio/visual crew take great pride in the work they do to capture the images of the evening while remaining quietly out of the shot itself.

While this year’s event marked the 10th anniversary of the sit-down dinner ceremony, OCFA began honoring its Best & Bravest in November 2002.

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The world was forever changed on September 11, 2001. We watched in horror as planes flew into the World Trade Center’s landmark Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan. Many watched helpless from living rooms across America.

As a Nation, we watched many run out, but were more transfixed by the images of those first responders running in.

Then we watched in disbelief as the towers collapsed. The plumes of smoke mixed with jet fuel. The ash and soot from the inferno that both towers succumbed to.

As the days passed, we learned the outcome of the brave individuals who went in without hesitation.

“Of the 2,977 victims killed in the September 11 attacks, 412 were emergency workers in New York City who responded to the World Trade Center. This included: 343 firefighters (including a chaplain and two paramedics) of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY),” according to Wikipedia.org.

BEST & BRAVEST AWARDS CEREMONY HONORING OCFA FIREFIGHTERS WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY

In the aftermath of September 11th, the Nation mourned all lost on that fateful Tuesday morning; however, the first responders – most notably the FDNY Firefighters who perished, became National Heroes. Literally the first soldiers in a war we had not yet known we were facing.

OCFA BEGINS TRADITION OF HONORING ITS BEST & BRAVEST IN 2002: REMEMBERING THOSE WHO BROUGHT FORTH THE AWARDS CEREMONY

The National climate in November 2002 encompassed grief and mourning for the still-fresh terrorist attacks of 9/11, fear and anger, but more than all of these combined – we had patriotism.

The U.S. President was George W. Bush, his Vice President Dick Cheney. Gray Davis was the Democratic Governor of California. In January 2002, President Bush delivered his “Axis of Evil” speech – one of the most memorable State of the Union Addresses of any president, according to www.thepeoplehistory.com. In his speech, he addressed the pressing problem of terrorism and the development of weapons used for mass destruction, the site says.

It was during this time that OCFA began honoring its firefighters with the Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony.

“OCFA began honoring its firefighters in November 2002 with the Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony,” Concialdi said. “The awards ceremony started out small in the banquet hall at The Salvation Army in Tustin Ranch with about 200-plus guests. Over time, the Orange County Exchange Clubs became involved and the event has grown steadily. In January 2008, it moved to the Irvine Marriott and remained there for a decadewith approximately 300 attendees plus. The event’s popularity continues to grow and this year we held it for the first time at the Pacific Hills Banquet Hall in Laguna Hills. The event was sold out to a record number 500 people in attendance.”

“While the Best & Bravest Awards Ceremonies have been held annually since 2002, this year marked the 10th anniversary of the sit-down dinner ceremony,” Concialdi clarified.

The Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony may be growing, but its early beginnings with those individuals that have helped sustain it are not forgotten.

“Broadcast reporter Michele Gile, with KCAL 9/CBS 2, has been the Master of Ceremonies since the beginning and she has done a phenomenal job,” said Concialdi. “OCFA’s Fire Chief Chip Prather was at the helm of the organization when the first Best & Bravest took place. Prather was a beloved leader for our organization and firefighters. Chief Prather retired in 2009, but this very meaningful awards ceremony continued as part of his legacy.”

“OCFA began the Best & Bravest to take the opportunity to recognize OCFA’s finest,” Concialdi said. “Even though all firefighters believe that they are just doing their job – we all desire very little, if any fanfare, when we perform a rescue. It is still important for the OCFA to take the time to publicly recognize the firefighters that have gone above and beyond.”

OCFA’S BEST & BRAVEST : BRAVERY, PROFESSIONALISM AND ABSOLUTE SKILL DISPLAYED DURING KNOTT’S BERRY FARM RESCUE

“The OCFA has grown since 2002 when the Best & Bravest initially began. OCFA now serves 23 partner cities and all of the unincorporated areas of Orange County. OCFA has grown from 61 to 72 fire stations. We have increased in cities served and now have a central facility for support staff. OCFA has enhanced its Air Operations and Advanced Life Support services considerably since 2002. We have approximately 1,050firefighters, 200 reserve firefighters and approximately 1,600 total employees. This is very different from where we were in 2002,” said Concialdi.

“One major incident recognized at this year’s Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony was the Knott’s Berry Farm, 21 person rescue from the Sky Cabin,” Concialdi said. “This will be an incident that stands out for many years to come. The bravery, professionalism and absolute skill that were demonstrated by OCFA’s finest will be an incredible example of one of the finest rescues this Country has seen in a three to four hour time span.”

“Firefighters still struggle with being recognized for something we believe is just a part of doing our jobs,” Concialdi said. “But, we all realize that it feels good to be recognized/appreciated by our peers for a job well done.”

“The Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony is a wonderful opportunity for our department to get together in an environment outside of the day to day operations and build camaraderie among all of us,” Concialdi said. “We get to celebrate those employees that have worked so hard over the past year.”

“It is a night that gives our organization a formal opportunity to look back on the past year and reflect on our purpose, mission and contributions to our communities that we serve,” said Concialdi.

BEST & BRAVEST REMEMBERS: FREEWAY COMPLEX FIRE 2008

“The categories of awards have stayed relatively the same over the years. We have seen some of the biggest incidents in Orange County highlighted during the Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony,” Concialdi said. “OCFA Firefighters were recognized for the role they played during the Freeway Complex Fire in 2008. In this incident, hundreds of homes in Yorba Linda and Brea were destroyed by an exceedingly fast moving, wind-driven wildfire that devastated that area.”

According to Wikipedia, the Freeway Complex Fire started as two separate fires on November 15, 2008. These two fires ultimately merged and destroyed 314 residences in Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda.

“Fortunately, these homes have been rebuilt and are safer today having been rebuilt to higher code safety standards,” Concialdi said. “Since that fire, codes have improved including codes pertaining to mesh over any attic or vent openings. The code now says the wire mesh in the openings must be 1/8th of an inch. We had a lot of small ember intrusions into attics during that fire. The 2008 Freeway Complex Fire was declared a major incident at the 1st Annual Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony.”

BEST & BRAVEST REMEMBERS: SANTIAGO WILDFIRE 2007, 12 OCFA FIREFIGHTERS SHELTERED IN PLACE ON CANYON HIILLSIDE SAVED BY OCFA AIR OPERATION HELICOPTERS AFTER WATER DROPS

“One of the most significant incidents where some units were given an award was during the Santiago Wildfire of 2007,” Concialdi said. “Two OCFA Air Operations helicopters were honored in the past for the role they played during this wildfire.”

“During this incident, 12 OCFA firefighters were trapped on the side of a hill in Santiago Canyon and were surrounded by fire. All 12 of these firefighters deployed fire shelters – which is a last resort for survival for wildland firefighters,” said Concialdi. “The OCFA Air Operations helicopters heard the radio traffic and immediately diverted. They dropped water which knocked down the fire around the 12 firefighters. The third drop was on top of the firefighters as they were coming out of the shelters to cool them down.”

ACCORDING to Wikipedia, “A fire shelter is a safety device of last resort used by wildland firefighters when trapped by wildfires. While such a shelter cannot withstand sustained contact with flames, it can protect a firefighter's life in a short-lived grass fire. Furthermore, it is designed to reflect radiant heat, protect against convective heat, and trap breathable air (most firefighters' deaths are from inhaling hot gases) so that firefighters can survive in non-burning areas surrounded by intense fire for more than an hour. First required in the United States in 1977, fire shelters are constructed layers of aluminum foil, woven silica, and fiberglass. The first known use of a fire shelter was in 1804, when a boy was saved from a prairie fire when his mother covered him with a fresh bison hide.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_shelter)

Yarnell Hill Fire and The Granite Mountain Hotshots. 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed in a June 30, 2013 wildfire following deployment of fire shelters.

“FIREFIGHTERS ARE THERE FOR THE PUBLIC, 365 DAYS A YEAR, 24 HOURS A DAY

“Firefighters don’t like to be recognized,” Concialdi said. “This is part of our job that we do every day. Firefighters are there for the public 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Firefighters are always there for when we are needed.”

OCFA’S BEST & BRAVEST: A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR FIREFIGHTERS

“Firefighters have different protocol for uniforms depending on the event. For the Best & Bravest, firefighters wear their full dress uniform, also known as a “Class A” uniform or Dress Uniform,” Concialdi explained. With the fire service full of traditions and rituals, fire service uniforms range from Class A (full dress), Class B (informal uniform), Class C (working uniform). “We wear the dress uniform for ceremonies, funerals and graduations. Anytime it is a really nice event. The Best & Bravest is a really nice event. It is a special night for firefighters.”

“During the Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony, firefighters are being honored for heroic work – as well as work they do every single day,” Concialdi said. “Those recognized for the Best & Bravest are nominated by their peers. Each nomination is provided with a write up of what they do that goes above and beyond normal service. The write ups are vetted and voted on by the OCFA Ceremony, Awards, Protocol (CAP) Team for each category.”

“The intent of the Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony is driven by the intent of those nominating staff,” Concialdi continued. “Some OCFA firefighters and organizational staff are nominated because of amazing things they did throughout the year, while others are nominated because they are retiring and their co-workers want to honor them. OCFA’s CAP team looks for the contributions to the organization and community as a whole when determining who the Best & Bravest are. It is also a time to pay respect to our employees that have passed and recap the year of what OCFA has done in service to its communities.”

“The Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony is a very humbling experience for our employees,” Concialdi said. “Most of the individuals that have been nominated work at this level because they truly are the best and the bravest – and do what they do as a calling, versus doing the work for recognition.”

“The public should go to bed every night knowing that OCFA firefighters are only a phone call away. We will arrive at your house within 3 to 5 minutes and will help you with whatever that emergency is,” said Concialdi. “Firefighter’s are in the bad day business. We respond to emergencies when someone is having a very bad day – that could be a heart attack, a stroke, a medical emergency, a medication overdose, it could be someone that is so sick with the flu that they can’t even get out of bed. We respond to traffic accidents. We respond to car fires, garage fires, structure fires, commercial fires, wildfires that threaten communities, people that are swept away in riverbeds or kids playing in storm drains, window washers on the side of a building, if there is a hazardous spill or a leak – OCFA firefighters respond by ground and air. OCFA’s Air Operations division is comprised of some of the most highly skilled firefighter pilots in the Nation and staffed with firefighter paramedics who are highly skilled and heavily trained in performing the most precise of technical rescues when every second counts.”

“We are all risk no matter what the emergency is,” Concialdi said. “When you pick up the phone and dial 911, there will be a fire engine, or multiple fire engines, fire trucks and paramedic units that will respond to wherever you are within minutes.”
“We are there for the public. We know that is our job – it is an honor and a privilege to be a firefighter, and all of us enjoy serving and protecting the public,” Concialdi said.

10th ANNUAL BEST & BRAVEST NOMINEES (for all the winners, videos and photos of the event, go to www.OCFA.org, or Facebook: Orange County Fire Authority @OrangeCountyFire)

CAREER FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Battalion 1: Fire Captain Jeff Kirkman
Battalion 2: Fire Captain Chuck Hawkins
Battalion 3: Firefighter Nicolas Mezzo
Battalion 4: Firefighters Jeremy Bart
Battalion 5: Fire Captain Stephen Horner
Battalion 6: Firefighter Daniel Tieman
Battalion 7: Firefighter Chris Linton
Battalion 8: Fire Captain Robert Bucho
Battalion 9: Fire Apparatus Engineer Ray McQueen
Staff: Fire Captain Jeff Hughes

RESERVE FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Battalion 2: Reserve Firefighter Bernie Heimos
Battalion 3: Reserve Firefighter Diandra Jay
Battalion 4: Reserve Firefighter David Skarman
Battalion 5: Reserve Firefighter David Le
Battalion 6: Reserve Firefighter John Radaza
Battalion 7: Reserve Firefighters Eric Sniadoski
Battalion 8: Reserve Firefighter Al Rodriquez

FIRE EXPLORER OF THE YEAR

Battalion 1: Fire Explorer Jake Cardona
Battalion 2: Fire Explorer Shelby Perkins
Battalion 5: Fire Explorer Brooke Healey

MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Business Services: Senior Accountant Serene Tang
Operations: Battalion Chief Craig Covey
Organizational Planning: Battalion Chief Dennis Gomez

PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF THE YEAR
Business Services: Accountant Samantha Koch
Community Risk Reduction: Assistant Fire Marshal Nick Pivaroff
Operations: Administrative Assistant Judy Rader
Support Services: IT Technician Perla Rodriguez

UNSUNG HERO
Fire Explorer Academy Cadre
John Wilson, Senior Fire Helicopter Technician
Santiago Hand Crew

CIVILIAN LIFESAVING AWARD
Edgar Vasquez

LIFESAVING MEDAL
Fire Captain David Wolf

UNIT CITATION/MEDAL OF COURAGE

Fire Captain Derek Biering
Fire Apparatus Engineer Thone Nguyen
Fire Apparatus Engineer Rodrigo Jimenez
Firefighter/Paramedic Jeremy Ruiz

SPECIAL OPERATIONS EVENT
OCFA Air Operations – Holy Fire Trabuco Canyon
OCFA Air Operations/Technical Rescue – Knott’s Berry Farm Sky Cabin Ride Incident
CA-Task Force 5 – Hurricane Harvey

MAJOR INCIDENT CITATION
Canyon Fire 2

(ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT COURTESY OCFA; Karen Tapia Los Angeles Times)

Soldier

”....Where did all the people go? They got scared when the lights went low. I’ll get you through it nice and slow. When the world’s spinning out of control.

Afraid of what they might lose. Might get scraped or they might get bruised. You could beg them, what’s the use?That’s why it’s called a moment of truth

I’ll get it if you need it,
I’ll search if you don’t see it,
You’re thirsty, I’ll be rain,
You get hurt, I’ll take your pain.

I know you don’t believe it,
But I said it and I still mean it,
When you heard what I told you,
When you get worried I’ll be your soldier….”
- Lyrics, Soldier Gavin DeGraw

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