The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is commending two deputies for their heroic efforts to save multiple senior citizens from the Eaton Fire, and newly released video shows a firsthand account of the harrowing rescue mission.
According to an LASD bulletin, the morning after the Eaton Fire erupted, two deputies assigned to the Carson Station who were redirected to help with the fire emergency began searching for residents in an evacuated senior living facility in Altadena.
While conducting their search, one of them, Deputy Quinn Alkonis, encountered an older woman walking her dog who was “seemingly unaware of the immediate danger.”
“With compassion and urgency, Deputy Alkonis informed her of the wildfire,” the LASD bulletin stated. “The woman was unsure when asked if others remained inside, prompting the deputies to intensify their search.”
The other first responder, Deputy Nicholas Martinez, went door to door to ensure no one was left behind. Alkonis joined him – continuously checking the building’s windows to track the fire’s proximity – and they both were looking for residents with flashlights due to the lack of power when they heard a faint voice echoing in a nearby hallway.
“Without hesitation, they rushed to investigate and discovered a 100-year-old woman, disoriented and struggling to find her way out,” officials said. “The woman explained that she hadn’t heard anything because her hearing aids were charging. The deputies prioritized her safety, guiding her carefully out of the building and away from harm.”
The video footage released by the sheriff’s department depicts the moment the deputies heard the woman and found her pushing a walker down the hallway.
“Oh, hi!” Deputy Martinez said, surprised at the sight of the centenarian. “Let’s get you out of here.”
The woman then pleaded with the deputies: “Don’t lose me.”
And they did not.
Both deputies were praised by LASD for their “exceptional courage and quick thinking under immense pressure” and their success in working in an unfamiliar area in an urgent situation; the station Martinez and Alkonis are assigned to in Carson is over 30 miles south of Altadena.
“Even after they took the older women to safety, the deputies knew their work wasn’t done,” the bulletin said. “Every second mattered and they continued their search, ensuring no resident was left behind.”
“Through the darkness and urgency, their instincts and teamwork never faltered in their mission,” it continued. “Their actions were a testament to their dedication, proving their resolve to serve remains unshakable even in unfamiliar and dangerous situations.”
Deputies Alkonis and Martinez are two of the many LASD personnel and first responders from agencies across the region who risked their lives to save others from harm in all the Southern California wildfires that broke out this month, and LASD officials gave praise to them too.
“Everyone played a critical role…their collective efforts showcased the extraordinary strength of teamwork and dedication in the face of disaster,” the bulletin concluded.
The full video of the rescue can be viewed in the video player below:
