The Los Angeles Fire Department today recognized eleven civilians and twelve Department members for their roles in rescuing two women trapped in a burning vehicle in downtown Los Angeles on October 19, 2025.

The ceremony brought together the civilians, firefighters, and families connected to the rescue for a public commendation of their actions that morning.

At 7:38 a.m. on October 19, a vehicle struck a light standard on Francisco Street, near Olympic Boulevard, and caught fire with two women trapped inside. Before Los Angeles Fire Department units arrived on scene, security staff and employees from LA Live and the JW Marriott moved toward the burning vehicle to help.

Their actions, all captured on video, were credited with freeing one of the two trapped passengers before firefighters reached the scene.

When Task Force 10 and Rescue Ambulance 10 arrived, a second passenger remained trapped in the back seat, pinned under collapsed seating and still restrained by her seatbelt. Firefighters from Engine 10 and Truck 10 carried out a coordinated extrication under active fire conditions, freeing the second patient in approximately ninety seconds.

Both women survived.

"Recognition is not a formality," said Fire Chief Moore. "It is how an organization tells its own people what it values. Both women survived because a team of civilians and firefighters refused to let that car be the last thing either of them ever saw."

The Department recognized the following civilians for their actions prior to the arrival of first responders: Priscilla Martinez, Yahir Hernandez, Luis Bello, Annett Lathan, Bryan Canas, Kyle Harrell, Skye Smith, Devic Galeas, Ashley Palencia, Adriana Garcia, and Christopher Wofford.

LAFD personnel recognized from Task Force 10 and RA 10 included Captain Mike Seiser, Engineer Steve Martineau, Firefighter/Paramedic Tristan Winterhalter, Firefighter Cole Thomas, CII Matthew Stratton, Apparatus Operator Mike Villata, Firefighter Vitus Pinto, Firefighter Andrew Austel, Firefighter Brian Barry, Engineer Brandon Colburn, Firefighter/Paramedic Danny Valle, Firefighter Sean Kennedy, and Firefighter/Paramedic Isaiah Hoeppner.

The Department extended its thanks to AEG for organizing today's event and to Lazy Dog for hosting.