County Fire Dept. Awards "Medals of Valor"

Two civilians and 27 firefighters received awards at the Ventura County Fire Department’s 14^th annual awards ceremony March 24 in Camarillo.

Firefighters Derek Hawthorne and Nick Cleary, as well as engineer Eric Roulston, received the Medal of Valor for rescuing an injured man whose truck went off the side of Highway 1 at Mugu Rock when they entered the rising surf. Bob Ameche and Brian Bulger received the same award for driving their vehicle through a fire at Jesusita to rescue fellow firefighters Ron Topolinski and Robert Lopez, who were trapped in a duplex by shifting sundowner winds.

Other awards distributed at the ceremony included those for Firefighers of the Year, Company of the Year, Employee of the Year, Dispatcher of the Year, Meritorious Service and Lifesaving Award. For a complete list of award recipients, visit the Ventura County Star. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/mar/24/fire-department-awards-five-medals-of-valor/