RIDLEY-THOMAS RECOGNIZES SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND FIREFIGHTERS WHO TEAMED TO SAVE MOTHER AND SON IN COMPTON BLAZE

 

 

 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  January 12, 2010                                                                                                                          Contact:  Aurelio Rojas 213-280-6579

                                                                                                                                                                            James Bolden 213-200-5314

                                                                       

SUPERVISOR RIDLEY-THOMAS RECOGNIZES SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES AND FIREFIGHTERS WHO TEAMED

TO SAVE MOTHER AND SON IN COMPTON BLAZE

 

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas today honored Sheriff’s deputies from the Compton station and firefighters from Engine Company 31 for saving the lives of a mother and her son after fire engulfed their home.

 

The deputies were on routine patrol at about 3 a.m. on Dec. 13, 2009, when they noticed the house fire in an unincorporated area of Compton. A frantic Guillermo Zuniga informed the deputies that his wife, Elva, was trapped in a rear bedroom of the home.

 

Because of metal security bars, the windows and doors to the residence in the East Rancho Dominguez area were inaccessible. The deputies, assisted by County firefighters who were already on the scene, quickly jumped into action.

 

“Deputies used a pick to remove the security bars and break (a) window as firefighters reached the room,” according to a report by Sheriff’s Capt. Diane Walker. The firefighters rescued Mrs. Zuniga and her 14-year-old son Emilio, who were both unconscious.

 

“With quick and motivated response time, the Sheriff's Department went above and beyond their call of duty to assist the Los Angeles County Fire Department with the rescue,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. “Because of their courageous acts, the residents survived and were able to celebrate the holidays with grateful hearts and minds.”

 

Elva Zuniga, along with her daughter, Priscilla, and nephew, also named Guillermo Zuniga, attended today’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors to express the family’s appreciation to the deputies and firefighters. Their son, Emilio, remains hospitalized as a result of his injures.

 

 

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LASD/FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION

 

Assigned to Engine Co. 31:

Captain Scott Edwards

Firefighter Specialist Jeff Audet

Firefighter Derek Moree

Firefighter  Paramedic Scott Crosby

 

ALSO HONORED:

Firefighter Paramedic Jeffrey Brinkman

Firefighter Paramedic Jeffrey Skogen

 

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Captain Diane E. Walker

Lt. Tony Lucia

Deputy Dru Strong

Sergeant Ulysses Cruz

Deputy Michael Kurinij

Deputy Miguel Balderrama

Deputy DeJay Barber

Deputy Paul Carmona

Deputy Irma Rayas