In one of the event’s more emotional moments, Glendale firefighters Patrick Hambarchian and Kevin Ku met the trio who saved them from a burning house fire Aug. 3. Both firefighters were injured, but Hambarchian received third-degree burns in the incident.
The department honored Fire Communication Operator Sean O’Connor and Burbank Fire Capt. Ken MacNew and firefighter John Washington for their rescue efforts, to which the crowd gave a standing ovation.
Hambarchian and Ku have since returned to work.
“The significance of this incident is so important to this fire organization,” Scoggins said. “These two firefighters may not be here today if it wasn’t for these individuals that are here today.”
The mutual aid relationship between the Glendale and Burbank fire departments ultimately led to Hambarchian and Ku’s rescue, he said.
Washington recalled entering the smoky and pitch-black home and calling for Hambarchian.
“I think at that moment you just risk injury and discomfort for ‘Let’s just get out of here,’” Washington said.
Firefighter paramedic Brian Murphy received the Distinguished Service Award for getting more emergency services equipment and mentoring young fire explorers in training.
Engineer Daniel Encinas also got the Distinguished Service Award for overseeing the purchase and operations of an abundant power supply system for the Verdugo Fire Communications Center.
“I love the job so it makes it easy,” he said.
Another Distinguished Service Award recipient was Capt. Ron Gulli, who helped man the city’s Emergency Operations Center during the Station fire, developed the Regional Training Center and helped Glendale’s sister cities get firefighting equipment.
Fire Cadet Tim Chow got a Fire Chief’s Commendation for coming to the Aug. 31 rescue of a motorist, who was left trapped in the overturned car.
“It’s really good to see through all the training Cadet Chow wasn’t afraid to act when he saw something happen,” Scoggins said.
Chow, 23, became an explorer with the department when he was 16, then went on to become a cadet. He said he wants to be a firefighter so he can help people.
“I was just the right place at the right time,” Chow said. “I was just there to help.”
Glendale resident Stephanie Osipov was honored for helping save the life of a woman who was shot in the cheek by her husband.
She had just completed a lifeguard academy, so she said she knew how to help the woman.
“I went to my graduation and my instructor is like ‘I guess your knowledge was put to the test. Now you know if something happens, you can handle it,’” Osipov said.
