Fish and Wildlife warden praised for Valley Fire heroics
COBB, Calif. (KTVU) -- A warden with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife stationed in Lake County was being praised Friday for risking his own life to save the lives of a baby and two elderly women in the Valley Fire.
According to a CDFW press release, on Saturday, Sept. 12, Warden Timothy Little was in Cobb on mutual aid law enforcement safety patrol after the Valley Fire broke out. Little, other wildlife officers and numerous first responders were scrambling to help evacuate residents who were trapped or needing assistance from their homes.
As the fire began to consume the small town of Cobb, officers received an emergency call about an elderly woman who was trapped in her home on Pine Summit Road. Hearing radio calls that other units in the area were unable to respond because of fire and debris in the roadway, Little headed to the address.
Driving his four-wheel drive patrol vehicle through the fire and burning road hazards, he located the home. Upon entering, Little found an elderly woman trapped in the house with her 11-month old granddaughter.
Little got both the woman and child safely out of the home and into his patrol truck. They were on the road just minutes before fire destroyed the home. Both are now safe with family.
Shortly after that rescue, Little again put his own safety at risk to assist another elderly woman who required emergency transport due to serious medical needs.
When Little learned that no medical transport crews would be able to make it to the woman in time, he raced the five miles on Hot Springs Road through Middletown to Anderson Springs to reach the woman.
After finding the house, he found the woman trapped on the second floor and unable to walk. Little carried the woman down a flight of stairs to a civilian vehicle and then used his patrol vehicle to escort them out of immediate danger. He then continued to assist in other searches.
“The entire department is incredibly proud of every warden in the field who is supporting efforts to fight the raging wildfires in northern California,” said CDFW Chief of Patrol David Bess. “Tim Little’s bravery and courage are a credit to both CDFW and the State of California.”
CDFW has more than 20 wildlife officers working around the clock to provide mutual aid support to allied law enforcement agencies, fire crews and paramedics fighting both the Butte Fire in Amador and Calaveras counties and the Valley Fire in Lake County.