Two Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters will receive medals of valor Sunday for rescuing a blind patient from a Whittier structure fire, while a third firefighter will receive the medal posthumously for rescuing colleagues from a fire truck that was involved in a head-on collision while responding to a call in Palmdale.
The Medal of Valor presentations will highlight the department’s annual Valor and Exemplary Service Awards Ceremony, which honors department members and public safety partners for “unwavering acts of heroism, bravery and admirable service.”
Firefighters Jacob Merrill and Cody Starbird will receive the Medal of Valor for their efforts at the scene of a Whittier structure fire on July 25, 2024. According to the department, the pair “courageously entered the structure through a bedroom window engulfed with heavy black smoke to save an unconscious blind patient.”
Firefighter Dustin Roberto will be honored posthumously for his work on Jan. 25, 2024, when the fire apparatus he was aboard was involved in a head-on collision while responding to a call. Roberto “heroically self-extricated then developed and executed a rescue plan to free his fellow firefighter trapped with injuries inside the responding vehicle.”
Roberto died in August 2024 at age 34 in Arizona following a “short-term illness,” according to the department.
County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone will present the valor medals.
Honors will also be presented during the event in several categories — Fire Chief’s White Helmet Award for media partners, Exemplary Service, Emergency Medical Services, Unit Citation and Certificate of Valor.
ABC7 anchor Marc Brown will emcee the event at the Mayne Events Center in Bellflower.