Press Release Details
SFUSD Educators Honored By SF Fire Commission for Heroic Rescue of Elderly Residents From Fire Near School Link to this section
San Francisco (Oct. 26, 2022) - Five educators at Rosa Parks Elementary School are being honored by the San Francisco Fire Commission for helping to rescue elderly residents from a burning building adjacent to the school on May 13, 2022. The Fire Commission will present Certificates of Appreciation to the educators at their meeting at City Hall at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Cecily Ina-Lee, Vincent Reyes, Reuben Guzman, Zachary Marlin, and Remi Nakamoto were in the middle of recess when they saw smoke coming from the building next to their school and called 9-1-1. Some of the Rosa Parks staff rushed into the building while others stayed and made sure the students were safe. Those who went into the building banged on windows and doors to make sure the residents knew there was a fire, and helped the residents – many of them elderly – get outside where they provided them with assistance and support.
“It truly took the entire school community coming together quickly to achieve this heroic act,” SF Board of Education President Jenny Lam said. “When the fire broke out, fellow colleagues at Rosa Parks jumped in to make sure the teachers’ students were brought inside and covered their classrooms. We are so glad that all Rosa Parks students and staff were safe, and we are immensely grateful to the San Francisco Fire Department for their quick response in putting out the fire and assisting the victims.”
The SF Board of Education also honored the five educators with certificates at its May 24, 2022 regular meeting.
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