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, announced at Fire-Rescue International, recognizes firefighters for their expert training, loyalty to their profession and 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 3-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 led victims to safety. 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. Enriquez single-handedly rescued 16 people from a third-floor window. After assisting with raising a 35-foot ladder, Ramos placed and charged the second hose line.

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.… [They] knew what had to be done and did it without personal regard.”