Archived News Release  

Firefighter David Ruiz Recognized as Moreno Valley's Firefighter of the Year

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."