Moreno Valley Firefighter of the Year 2013
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Fire Captain David Rodriguez Recognized as Moreno Valley's Firefighter of the Year 2013
Moreno Valley's City Council, City staff, and Fire Chief Abdul Ahmad recognized Fire Captain David Rodriguez as Firefighter of the Year for the City of Moreno Valley at the March 11 City Council Meeting.
The Chief Officers of the Moreno Valley Fire Department evaluated all 68 Moreno Valley firefighters in determining whom to recognize with the Firefighter of the Year award. Captain Rodriguez was chosen due to his exceptional command and control on emergency incidents as well as his involvement in numerous special assignments. Captain Rodriguez is recognized as a leader amongst his peers and shows his dedication to this Fire Department on a daily basis. His participation as the coordinator for the Moreno Valley Reserve Firefighter program as well as his teaching skills during the Advanced Firefighter Cadre courses are just two of the many special assignments he has undertaken and exceled at over the last year.
Fire Captain Rodriguez began his career in 1998 at Riverside County Fire Station 13 in Home Gardens, where he worked for two years as a Volunteer Firefighter. During this time, he attended classes at Santa Ana College, where he completed the California State Fire Academy.
In 2000, Captain Rodriguez was hired as a seasonal Firefighter, and over the course of the next two years worked as a Firefighter I at Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base, Riverside County Fire Station 54 in Homeland, and Riverside County Fire Station 11 in Lake Elsinore. In 2002, Captain Rodriguez was promoted to a permanent Firefighter II at CAL FIRE / Riverside County Fire Department's Headquarters Station in the City of Perris, Station 1. Captain Rodriguez was assigned in the City of Perris for the next seven years, during which time he promoted to Fire Apparatus Engineer in 2005.
In October of 2009, David Rodriguez was promoted to the position of Fire Captain in City of Moreno Valley. Captain Rodriguez worked as a relief Captain in the City until May 2010, when he was assigned to TownGate Fire Station 6.
Captain Rodriguez has a passion for training new firefighters and teaches on CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department's Advanced Firefighter Cadre. He is a coordinator for the Reserve Firefighter program within the Moreno Valley Division. He is also the coordinator for Moreno Valley Fire Department's annual Muscular Dystrophy Association "Fill the Boot" event. Additionally, Captain Rodriguez assists in training new Fire Captains assigned to the Moreno Valley Battalion who have never worked in the Riverside Unit.
City of Moreno Valley - Firefighter of the Year 2012
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Firefighter David Ruiz Recognized as Moreno Valley's Firefighter of the Year 2012
Moreno Valley's City Council, City staff, and Fire Chief Abdul Ahmad recognized Firefighter II David Ruiz as the Firefighter of the Year for the City of Moreno Valley at a City Council Meeting held on March 13.
Firefighter Ruiz began his career as a seasonal firefighter with the United States Forest Service in 1985. He joined Cal Fire as a seasonal Helitack Firefighter in 1986 as a helicopter flight crew member at Hemet-Ryan Helitack Base. In 1999, he was promoted to Firefighter II in Moreno Valley.
Firefighter Ruiz is currently assigned to the Sunnymead Fire Station as a Firefighter II on Truck 2. As a member of the truck company, he has received specialized training in swift water rescued, low angle rescue, high rise incidents, wide rise incidents, confined space operations, and trench rescues. During the presentation of the Firefighter of the Year Award, Fire Chief Ahmad reflected on a recent incident where Firefighter Ruiz's skills as a member of the truck company were utilized for an over the side traffic accident off of State Highway 60. Two patients from this incident were located in a ravine that was 75 feet off of the roadway. Firefighter Ruiz was instrumental in the rescue of these patients and during the ascent out of the ravine he constantly was speaking to both patients, providing them with reassurance that they were receiving the best care possible.
Mayor Richard A. Stewart presented the award to Firefighter Ruiz during the ceremony. After the presentation, Mayor Stewart stated "It takes a certain degree of person, a certain degree of bravery, to be able to go into a burning building or enter swift moving water to rescue a person and he's one of them."
When asked why he wanted to become a fire fighter? Firefighter Ruiz stated there were two reasons; one is his strong desire to help others and the other is his passion for a challenging career.
As a seasoned fire veteran, Firefighter Ruiz instills core values and qualities in the minds of less experienced firefighters. One of the City's Fire Captains stated that "Dave takes time out of his day to help mentor and teach new firefighters while still volunteering to take on new projects." Firefighter Ruiz ensures that all new firefighters understand the importance of dependability, commitment, and team work.
Firefighter Dave Ruiz's extensive knowledge and experience as a firefighter is a true asset to the Moreno Valley Fire Department and is one of the many reasons he was selected as the Moreno Valley Fire Department Firefighter of the Year.
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