Numerous volunteers from the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station were recognized by Supervisor Mike Antonovich and the Board of Supervisors for their efforts during the Powerhouse Fire. The awards presentation took place yesterday, Tuesday, April 22, in the Board of Supervisors hearing room at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.
The Powerhouse fire burned over an eleven day period starting on May 30, 2013. The fire started at Hydroelectric Powerhouse No.1, in San Francisquito Canyon, just north of Santa Clarita. The flames quickly spread due to Santa Ana winds, high temperatures and dry brush. It burned over 33,000 acres and destroyed 53 structures as it moved through the communities of Green Valley, Leona Valley, Elizabeth Lake, and Lake Hughes. It would take over 2100 fire fighters from 40 agencies to finally contain the blaze which threatened thousands of homes and displaced over 2000 citizens.
The volunteers were commended for their assistance with evacuations, road closures, and reconnaissance efforts.
Sheriff’s Reserve Commander John Johnston and Reserve Deputy Andrew Petty of the Antelope Valley Search and Rescue team were responsible for the coordinated evacuation of Green Valley. Due to poor radio communications in the mountainous area, they established a make-shift command post on the hood of their rescue truck on the side of the roadway. The main command post sent patrol personnel from throughout Los Angeles County to Commander Johnston for deployment. Problems arose when the responding deputies started getting lost on the mountain roads. Commander Johnston assigned Volunteer on Patrol personnel who live in the area to act as guides for the deputies to keep them from getting lost.
All of the volunteers had been working non-stop for three days prior to this incident. The Volunteer on Patrol personnel live in the affected areas, so they knew the area well. They didn’t know if their own houses were in peril as they guided the deputies and went door to door conducting evacuations.
In spite of the loss of property and charred landscape, through the actions of the below listed volunteers, there was no loss of life:
Reserve Commander John Johnston
Reserve Captain Robb Thompson
Reserve Deputy Andrew “Goose” Petty
Reserve Deputy Jeff Godde
Reserve Deputy Trevor Samoriski
Civilian Volunteer Specialist Chris Neil
Volunteer on Patrol Joe Brong
Volunteer on Patrol Mike Foxworth
Volunteer on Patrol Gene Heintz
Volunteer on Patrol Robin Kennard
Volunteer on Patrol Jay Tallent
Volunteer on Patrol Debi Tallent
Volunteer on Patrol Frank Toothaker
Volunteer on Patrol Dick Zahnter
Volunteer on Patrol Susan Zahnter
Palmdale Sheriff’s Station provides policing services for over 750 square miles, stretching from Santa Clarita to the San Bernardino County Line and from the Angeles National Forest to Avenue M. Palmdale Sheriff’s Station has 157 volunteers. They each donate their time to the Sheriff’s Department for the betterment of the citizens in our local community. Palmdale station has numerous volunteer outreach opportunities:
Law Enforcement Explorer Program (for young adults, ages 15 to 21)
Station Volunteers including front desk and clerical work
Volunteers on Patrol
Antelope Valley Mounted Posse
Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Clergy Council
Antelope Valley Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Disaster Communications Specialists
Antelope Valley Search and Rescue
Sheriff’s ReserveDeputy Program
For more information on any of these programs visit www.PalmdaleVolunteers.com, or contact Deputy Jodi Wolfe at 661-272-2420.
To read the full story about the heroic efforts of these volunteers and to see additional pictures from the Powerhouse fire, please visit our website at www.Palmdale.LASD.org, and click on this headline story.
LA Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Written by:
Sgt. Andy Nagel
661-272-2425
[email protected]
