Asst. Fire Chief Timothy Ybarra; Firefighters Ramon Pravia, Jeronimo Enriquez, Javier Arellano and David Jiminez; and Driver/Operator Manuel Ramos have won this year’s International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor, co-sponsored by Motorola and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The award was announced at the 2006 Fire-Rescue International fire and emergency services conference and exposition in Dallas.

The International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor recognizes firefighters around the world for their expert training, their loyalty to their profession and their dedication to saving lives.

On Sept. 11, 2005, Engine 1 of the U.S. Naval Station Rota Fire Department responded to a residential fire in the city of Rota, Spain. Ybarra reported heavy black smoke and fire present on the ground floor of a three-story apartment complex; electrical power had failed and there were no emergency lights. He immediately called a second alarm. In the meantime, with only four firefighters, Engine 1 raised ladders to the second and third floors where many people were trapped by the blaze and intense smoke.

While awaiting the fire chief and Engine 2, Ybarra directed rescue efforts and physically led victims to safety. Firefighters Arellano and Jiminez knocked down the main body of fire, then located and rescued three victims and led them to safety. Jiminez also discovered an infant and immediately turned her over to EMS personnel, but the infant later died. Firefighter Pravia helped nine victims escape the smoke and flames from the second floor, continuing after sustaining a severe neck and spine injury until he was overcome by pain. Firefighter Enriquez single-handedly rescued 16 people from a third-floor window. After assisting with raising a 35-foot ladder, Driver/Operator Ramos placed and charged the second hose line.

The actions of these six firefighters were accomplished with minimal resources and without regard for self-preservation. In nominating Team Rota for the award, Ricky Brockman, assistant program manager for U.S. Navy Fire & Emergency Services, said, “With insufficient manpower and equipment and no other options, these brave firefighters unselfishly risked their lives to save as many people as humanly possible, fully knowing that they could become victims themselves. NAVSTA Rota’s firefighters knew what had to be done and did it without personal regard.”

Each individual on this team was awarded the Navy Fire and Emergency Services Life Saving Award. They also have been selected as winners of the 2005 Navy Firefighter Heroism Award. In addition, the team will be considered for the Department of Defense-level award later this year.