Apartment fire incident

Officer Laura Gonzalez

Officer Heriberto Salazar

On the morning of May 5, 2008, Officers Heriberto Salazar and Laura Gonzalez assigned to Devonshire Division, and Officers Haley Smith and Vincent Rojas working Mission Division, had just been released from a command post in West Valley Division. Both patrol units were driving back to their respective areas when they saw smoke coming from a fire at an apartment complex at Parthenia Street and Owensmouth Avenue. All four officers rushed to the building. The fire department had not yet arrived. Officers Salazar, Gonzalez, Smith and Rojas saw several residents running from the burning complex and realized they needed to get everyone out quickly. They knew that waiting for the fire department to arrive was not an option, so the four officers risked their own lives and entered the burning building to rescue and coordinate evacuation of the residents. Working as a team, Officers Salazar, Gonzalez, Smith and Rojas moved through the apartment complex, and as safely as possible, got the residents out of the building. Officer Rojas moved to the rear of the apartment building so he could direct people out.

Officer Hayley Smith

Officer Vincent Rojas

While there, Officer Rojas saw a resident using a fire extinguisher on a burning vehicle and could see that the fire extinguisher was having little effect – the area quickly became an inferno. The flames spread through to the apartment complex as well as other vehicles parked in the carport. Officer Rojas told the resident to leave, but he refused. With the whole carport now in flames, Officer Rojas grabbed the man and dragged him to safety. Officer Rojas pushed him behind the building and away from the carport. Without warning, the vehicle suddenly exploded. Officer Rojas threw himself to the ground to avoid the flying flaming debris. Unfazed, Officer Rojas stood up and ran back to the front of the apartment complex to help Officers Salazar, Gonzalez and Smith with the evacuation efforts.

With the fire raging in the carport, Officers Rojas and Salazar knew any residents in the apartments above the carport would need to be evacuated immediately. Officers Rojas and Salazar ran into the burning building again toward the apartments above the carport. Despite the flames, heat and thick black smoke, Officers Rojas and Salazar went into the units to search for residents and found the two apartments empty. But to their surprise, there were still people inside other units who were unaware of the fire. Officer Salazar found a woman with her two children and told her she needed to get out. The woman was skeptical until she saw smoke coming into her apartment. Then there was an explosion. The woman and her children began to panic and frantically ran around the apartment. Under immense pressure, Officer Rojas talked to the woman, assuring her that she and her children would be safe. Officer Salazar escorted them all to safety.

Meanwhile, Officer Gonzalez and Officer Smith were finding other residents who were not aware that the building was on fire. They worked quickly and efficiently to evacuate everyone. Although it felt like an eternity, within minutes Officers Gonzalez and Smith cleared the complex and relocated the residents to a safe place across the street. As the last residents from the burning building were placed out of harm's way, the fire department arrived and assumed command. All of the officers suffered smoke inhalation and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. They were all later released without serious injury. Had it not been for the quick actions of the four officers, the residents of the burning building may not have escaped without harm or serious injury.

Officers Salazar, Gonzalez, Smith and Rojas are commended for their heroic actions, courage, and for sacrificing their own safety in an effort to save lives. Without the decisive actions of these four officers, many of the residents of the apartment complex could have died. Officers Salazar, Gonzalez, Smith and Rojas exemplify team work, an unselfish response to the needs of the community and dedication to public service.