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Fallbrook Substation receives special Sheriff's award

For their outstanding efforts during last October’s Rice Canyon Fire, the Fallbrook Substation was presented with a Meritorious Unit Citation by San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender at a special awards ceremony held June 3 at the Bob Hope Theater on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Fallbrook staff were Sgt. Theresa Adams-Hydar, Sgt. Ron McCracken, Tracy Jones-Weatherford and Senior Volunteer Patrol Commander Manny Ortega.

“Of all the things we do, this is what I enjoy the most – recognizing the achievements of these men and women,” Kolender said. “I am very proud.”

It was explained to the audience, by Lt. Phil Brust, that the sworn staff, office professionals, volunteers and other Sheriff’s Department employees of the Fallbrook Substation worked “tirelessly, in horrendous conditions” for two weeks during and after the fire to ensure the safe evacuation and repopulation of the town.

“With other fires burning in the county that were resulting in mass evacuations, Fallbrook also put out a call for emergency services,” Brust said. “They had 60,000 residents within 140 square miles to evacuate. These staff members were driving through flames and other dangerous condition to evacuate residents. They risked their own lives to assist the public.”

Brust reviewed the conditions throughout the county that limited assistance to Fallbrook during the fire and said, “[During these wildfires] we have the largest coordinated response in the history of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.”

The Rice Canyon Fire, Brust said, destroyed more than 200 homes and consumed close to 10,000 acres.

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