California Fire Fighter Honored for Saving a Life

February 19, 2009 – The City of Benicia in California has bestowed a Commendation in Recognition of Heroic Service to Vallejo, CA Local 1186 paramedic/fire fighter James Ensley for his actions that saved a woman’s life.

Ensley was among the paramedics and police officers responding to a report that a car had veered off Interstate 780, into an embankment and through a fence and landed in a swimming pool.

When the responding units arrived, residents and neighbors were working to keep the car afloat so that the driver, Yvonne Campbell, could breathe. However, Campbell was unconscious and did not appear to be breathing.

“Ensley did not hesitate before he took off his gear and jumped into the pool,” says Todd Mathews, Local 1186 Benicia representative. “It is very difficult to break car windows once they are underwater. But, because of his determination, Ensley and others there were able to get Campbell out of the passenger’s side door and revive her.”

The City’s Commendation reads that “while this incident exemplifies the extraordinary training and teamwork of our public safety personnel, Paramedic/Fire Fighter Ensley played a significant role in ensuring the success of this rescue and was crucial in saving the life of the female driver.”

Campbell was taken to a local medical center for treatment and later released.