Local heroes honored by Glendale Fire Department at awards luncheon
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When Jamil Lozano arrived on the scene of an apartment fire the day after Christmas last year, he and his crew heard trapped residents screaming for help.
Through smoke-filled hallways, the Glendale fire engineer searched the building, where he found two victims, barely conscious and choking on smoke.
PHOTOS: Glendale Fire Dept. recognizes local acts of heroism
Lozano dragged them down the hallway to a stairwell that led them outside, and treated them until other fire officials arrived to take over patient care.
Lozano, along with the two others on his truck, firefighter paramedic Scott McMahon and Capt. Todd Tucker, were recognized for their heroism Wednesday at the annual Glendale Fire Department awards luncheon.
More than 30 people — fire officials as well as civilians — were honored during the ceremony.
Among them was Glendale fire engineer Ara Hoonanian, who at a Fourth of July gathering this year rescued a 6-year-old girl who was found face down and motionless in a swimming pool.
He quickly jumped in, pulled her out and performed CPR, allowing her to become alert and oriented by the time paramedics arrived.
Meanwhile, civilian Rusty Howes was honored for jumping in to help when he witnessed a 63-year-old stranger stop breathing in May. He performed chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before Glendale fire officials arrived. The fire crew that treated the man, Jerome Collins, was also recognized.
Collins joined those who saved his life on stage as they accepted the awards.
“If he hadn’t gotten there at that time on that day, I would’ve been dead,” Collins said of Howes.
Distinguished Service Awards were also presented to Verdugo Fire Executive Administrator Don Wise, firefighter paramedic Joe Flahavan, engineer Jeffrey Casilli and Capt. Cody Smith.
Volunteer Sue “Purple” Jekarl received the Service Above Self Award, while Bryan Soboleski was recognized as Ambulance Operator of the Year.