Bilingual report — VCFD Awards Recognize Community Heroes

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February 16, 2023

VCFD Awards to Recognize Community Heroes

Capt. Zach Trottier

Engineer Logan Hershman

Firefighter Austyn Frailey

Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy

Austin Whittaker

CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Fire Department honored 59 people today for their outstanding service in support of public safety during the 26th annual VCFD Awards.

“Each of the people honored today rose to the occasion to enhance public safety in our community,” Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said. “They exemplify excellence. And some went far, far above expectations to save lives. They are role models and inspirations for all of us to emulate.”

Captain Zach Trottier, Engineer Logan Hershman, Firefighter Austyn Frailey and Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Whittaker received Medals of Valor for saving a 16-year-old girl and her mother, who were being attacked by six Cane Corso mastiffs and a Pitbull mix in Thousand Oaks. The Medal of Valor is the highest honor the department bestows.

The men rushed to the victims, using the fire engine’s sirens and air horn, compressed air from a breathing apparatus, firefighting tools and pepper spray to drive the dogs off the victims and corral them back inside the house.

Captain Desi Rodriguez, Captain Jeff Witt, Engineer Kevin Lundgren, Engineer Ethan Miller, Firefighter Andres Castilleja and Firefighter Alexandra Johnson were presented with Meritorious Service Medals for their work saving a teen who was run over by a car while riding his bike in Camarillo.

The boy was trapped underneath the car. When the firefighters arrived, he was unconscious, had stopped breathing and had no pulse. Joined by a Ventura County Sheriff’s detective, and a Los Angeles Fire Department captain who happened to be in the area, the firefighters lifted the car by hand so they could pull the boy out, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, restore a heartbeat and maintain care all the way to the hospital.

The Sheriff’s detective, the LAFD captain received Lifesaving Award Medals.

Thirteen other people received Lifesaving Citation Medals or Lifesaving Award Medals for actions, including saving people who were choking, cardiopulmonary resuscitation saves and a drowning save. Lifesaving Award Medals are presented to VCFD employees and members of other public safety agencies. Lifesaving Citation Medals are awarded to members of the public.

The lifesaving award winners are:

Scott Dettorre

Emily Tipps

Humberto Quintana

Milo Bustillos

Mikayla Lutzke

Marquita Ellias

Nancy Hood

Dustin “D.J.” Fierro

Brad Bosworth

Arturo Mendoza

Firefighter Garrett Prather

Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Martin Nunes

Battalion Chief Nicholas Cleary

Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Jason Jamal

And Ventura County Sheriff’s Detective Noe Magana

 

Los Premios VCFD Reconocen a los Héroes de la Comunidad

 

CAMARILLO – – El Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Ventura honró hoy a 59 personas por su destacado servicio en apoyo de la seguridad pública durante la 26ª entrega anual de los Premios VCFD.

“Cada una de las personas honradas hoy estuvo a la altura de la ocasión para mejorar la seguridad pública en nuestra comunidad,” dijo el jefe de bomberos Dustin Gardner. “Ellos ejemplifican la excelencia. Y algunos fueron muy por encima de las expectativas para salvar vidas. Son modelos e inspiraciones para que todos nosotros emulemos.”

El capitán Zach Trottier, el ingeniero Logan Hershman, el bombero Austyn Frailey y el diputado del sheriff del condado de Ventura Austin Whittaker recibieron Medallas al Valor por salvar a una niña de 16 años y su madre, que estaban siendo atacadas por seis mastines Cane Corso y una mezcla de Pitbull en Thousand Oaks. La Medalla al Valor es el honor más alto que otorga el departamento.

Los hombres corrieron hacia las víctimas, usando las sirenas del camión de bomberos y la bocina de aire, aire comprimido de un aparto de respiración, herramientas de extinción de incendios y gas pimienta para ahuyentar a los perros de las víctimas y acorralarlos dentro de la casa.

La capitana Desi Rodriguez, el capitán Jeff Witt, el ingeniero Kevin Lundgren, el ingeniero Ethan Miller, el bombero Andres Castilleja y la bombera Alexandra Johnson recibieron Medallas de Servicio Meritorio por su trabajo salvando a un adolescente que fue atropellado por un automóvil mientras montaba su bicicleta en Camarillo.

El joven estaba atrapado debajo del auto. Cuando llegaron los bomberos, estaba inconsciente, había dejado de respirar y no tenía pulso. Junto con un detective del Sheriffs del Condado de Ventura y un capitán del Departamento de Bomberos de Los Ángeles que se encontraba en el área, los bomberos levantaron el automóvil a mano para poder sacar al joven, comenzar la reanimación cardiopulmonar, restaurar los latidos del corazón y mantener la atención hasta el hospital.

El detective del Sheriff y el capitán de LAFD recibieron Medallas de Premio de Salvamento.

Otras trece personas recibieron Medallas de Citación de Salvamento o Medallas de Premio de Salvamento por acciones, incluyendo salvar a personas que se estaban asfixiando, salvas de reanimación cardiopulmonar y una salva de ahogamiento. Las Medallas del Premio de Salvamento se presentan a los empleados de VCFD y miembros de otras agencias de seguridad pública. Las Medallas de Citación para Salvar Vidas se otorgan a miembros del público.

Los ganadores del premio de salvamento son:

Scott Dettorre

Emily Tipps

Humberto Quintana

Milo Bustillos

Mikayla Lutzke

Marquita Ellias

Nancy Hood

Dustin “D.J.” Fierro

Brad Bosworth

Arturo Mendoza

Bombero Garrett Prather

Diputado del sheriff del condado de Ventura Martin Nunes

Jefe de batallón Nicholas Cleary

Capitán del departamento de bomberos de Los Ángeles Jason Jamal

Y el detective del Sheriff del condado de Ventura Noe Magana

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