Trending Topics

CO honored for saving disabled neighbor from fire

Local firefighters surprised CO Geovanie Hernandez with a commendation typically presented to firefighters

By Joe Mario Pedersen
Orlando Sentinel

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Geovanie Hernandez never expected to save someone from an apartment fire, and certainly wasn’t expecting to be awarded for it.

Hernandez, an Orange County Corrections officer of 11 years, arrived Monday at Orange County Fire Rescue Station 63 under the impression he was picking up equipment for his own job, but he was ambushed by Fire Rescue Chief James Fitzgerald who presented him with the department’s highest distinction of service for his quick actions.

“Typically this is a commendation presented to firefighters, [in recognition] of highly commendable accomplishments under averse conditions of moderate or major degree of risk where injury or death is prevented,” Fitzgerald said. “Officer Hernandez’s actions so impressed the firefighters that they brought this to my attention so we could be here today.”

Hernandez, a former volunteer firefighter, was home with his his 5-year-old son Jonah in early June when he noticed black smoke coming from the hallway.

He picked up Jonah and rushed him out of the apartment which had caught on fire. Once they were in the clear he heard a security guard say a man who had suffered a stroke earlier in the month was inside and incapable of getting out.

Hernandez asked the guard to watch over Jonah. He then turned his attention toward the fire and ran inside.

Meanwhile, firefighters from Station 63 were on their way to the scene in reference to a victim suffering breathing problems.

They were later told by dispatch that the scene was worse than originally thought, and the source of the victim’s breathing problems was a building fire started in the victim’s kitchen, said Lt. Jason McNally.

“Once we knew it was a fire, we started going over tactics, and getting amped up for the worse,” McNally said.

But when they arrived, the crew found Hernandez with the victim in a hallway outside of the burning apartment.

“[Hernandez] stole our thunder,” McNally said, happily. “If he hadn’t rushed in when he did, who knows what would’ve happened.

The 63-year-old male victim was covered in black, toxic soot, McNally said. He was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment.

McNally approached Hernandez to commend him on the rescue, but Hernandez downplayed his involvement.

The next day, Hernandez reported for work and only told his superiors the bare minimum of what occurred, said Orange County Corrections Chief Louis A. Quiñones, who was on hand for the ceremony.

“He downplayed the role he played in this event,” Quiñones said.

When he found out the extent of Hernandez’s role he wasn’t surprised to hear of Hernandez’s quick thinking.

“He’s always been good at quick decision making,” Quiñones said. “We are so proud of master officer Hernandez.”

McNally respected Hernandez’s modesty, but felt his heroism shouldn’t go unrewarded and thus submitted his name for the distinguished service award, Fitzgerald said.

When Hernandez arrived at Station 63 he was surprised to see his wife Melissa Cespedes, son Jonah and Quiñones proudly waiting to see Hernandez awarded.

“I’m shocked and a little surprised,” Hernandez said clearly bewildered by the attention. I try to hold myself to a standard that I think at the end of the day, I can put my head on a pillow and think that [my son] is proud. Hopefully, when he grows up and thinks of me, he thinks I did something right.”

©2019 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU