LA PALMA : 2 Officers Awarded Certificates of Valor
The County Fire Department awarded certificates of valor this week to two La Palma police officers for risking their lives last January while searching for a 9-month-old girl trapped in a burning house.
Sgt. Mark Yokoyama, 25, and Officer Craig Schmelter, 28, helped save the life of Chelsea Burris, who was still in her crib as flames nearly engulfed the house shortly after midnight on Jan. 25, Battalion Chief Kevin Brame said.
Both officers received minor burns and suffered cuts and smoke inhalation while fumbling through the burning house looking for the child, Brame said. After several attempts, he said, paramedics arrived at the scene and were able to find the girl with the help of breathing equipment.
Chelsea, who suffered severe smoke inhalation, has recovered.
Yokoyama and Schmelter “went beyond the call of duty and placed themselves in grievous danger to effect the rescue of Chelsea,” Brame said.
In addition to the certificate of valor, Brame said he is nominating the officers for the California State Firefighters Assn. Medal of Valor.
Schmelter has been a La Palma police officer for 1 1/2 years. Yokoyama has been with the department for six years.
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