The Sheriff Department said:
On December 29, 2010, during a severe winter storm with wind gusts over 60 miles per hour, Sergeant Joseph Fender and Deputies Jonathan Boden and Marco Grajales responded to an emergency call of a structure fire in the city of Lancaster. Upon their arrival, they found no fire; however, the wind had knocked loose several power lines, causing live wires to create sparks and smoke at a residence.
Deputy Grajales observed that a large, high-tension power line, carrying over 12,000 volts of electricity, had separated from its pole and was swinging wildly against the residence, wet pavement of the street, and nearby trees, causing huge explosions upon impact. The power line occasionally collided atop the house, causing the roof to smolder and smoke. Fearing the neighboring residence would catch fire, Deputy Grajales exited his vehicle and ran to the house in an attempt to evacuate any occupants as power lines crashed and exploded around him.
Sergeant Fender saw additional live wires thrashing back and forth between himself and the victims’ location. Despite the obvious danger, he drove over the wires in an attempt to rescue them; however, live wires blocked both sides of his patrol vehicle and he was forced to move to a safer location.
Sergeant Fender and Deputy Grajales then saw the residents of the location frantically trying to load their pets into a truck as power lines struck their residence and the driveway where they were standing. One of the victims was panicking over her cat, which could not be located.
Altadena Sheriff Sgt. Joseph Fender received a Meritorious Conduct Medal, Gold, for saving lives in a housefire when he was working out of Lancaster last year.
On December 29, 2010, during a severe winter storm with wind gusts over 60 miles per hour, Sergeant Joseph Fender and Deputies Jonathan Boden and Marco Grajales responded to an emergency call of a structure fire in the city of Lancaster. Upon their arrival, they found no fire; however, the wind had knocked loose several power lines, causing live wires to create sparks and smoke at a residence.
Deputy Grajales observed that a large, high-tension power line, carrying over 12,000 volts of electricity, had separated from its pole and was swinging wildly against the residence, wet pavement of the street, and nearby trees, causing huge explosions upon impact. The power line occasionally collided atop the house, causing the roof to smolder and smoke. Fearing the neighboring residence would catch fire, Deputy Grajales exited his vehicle and ran to the house in an attempt to evacuate any occupants as power lines crashed and exploded around him.
Sergeant Fender saw additional live wires thrashing back and forth between himself and the victims’ location. Despite the obvious danger, he drove over the wires in an attempt to rescue them; however, live wires blocked both sides of his patrol vehicle and he was forced to move to a safer location.
Sergeant Fender and Deputy Grajales then saw the residents of the location frantically trying to load their pets into a truck as power lines struck their residence and the driveway where they were standing. One of the victims was panicking over her cat, which could not be located.