Monday, February 29, 2016

Los Angeles County To Honor Firefighter Heroes in Pasadena

The Los Angeles County Fire Department will honor more than 100 people at the 2016 Valor Awards, to be held at the Pasadena Convention Center Tuesday, March 1, 2016, starting at 7:00 p.m.

The Valor Awards is an annual ceremony that recognizes extraordinary members of the Department and other first responder agencies and civilians alike for their exceptional heroism and exemplary service.

This year, four personnel will be given the Medal of Valor, the highest honor bestowed upon a member of the Department.

Fire Captain Daniel McKeen and Fire Fighter Matthew Prasch were part of the U.S. contingent that responded to the devastating earthquake Nepal in April 2015. The pair was sent on a search and rescue mission to a remote village in the Himalayan nation, where they endured strong aftershocks and dug a 30-foot tunnel – with their bare hands and a few tools – to rescue a woman buried underneath three stories of rubble.

Fire Captain Mark Roberts and Fire Fighter Leo Harris will be awarded the Medal for Valor in recognition of their heroic effort when they dove into a blazing building whose roof had collapsed and trapped four firefighters. With no time to spare and little air left in their breathing apparatus, Roberts and Harris rescued their colleagues.

Other firefighters will receive Certificates of Valor, Unit Citations, Certificates of Merit, Letters of Commendation and Exemplary Service awards from the Department during the awards ceremony.

The Pasadena Convention Center is at 300 E. Green Street in Pasadena.