| Name: | Raul Ochoa |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighter rescue, Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Honor |
| Year of Award: | 2003 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 2002 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Chicago Fire Department firefighter Raul Ochoa was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at a high-rise apartment fire in Chicago, Illinois on January 21, 2002.
Ochoa responded to a fire on the fourteenth floor of a high-rise apartment building on 260 E. Chestnut St. in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Because the fire was so high up in the apartment building, it took several minutes for the firefighters to reach it. By the time firefighter Ochoa reached the apartment, it was fully involved. Ochoa tried to save the occupant of the apartment by prying open her front door and crawling on the ground toward her. It was an extremely windy day and the gusts fanned the flames in the direction of the firefighters. He was pushed back by a fireball and subsequently lost control of his hose and nozzle. Unable to rescue the victim, he nevertheless regained control of the hose and continued directing water at the fire. In doing so, he saved the lives of numerous firefighters. Ochoa suffered third-degree burns on his legs and was only able to make it down to the ninth floor of the building when he collapsed. A stranger helped him to the ground floor. Eight firefighters were injured in the blaze. But, fortunately, none were killed, thanks to Ochoa’s efforts.
Citations:Chicago honors some of its best,
Chicago Tribune, October 9, 2002.
Firefighter, 2 cops honored for heroism,
Chicago Sun-Times, October 9, 2002.
"Illinois Honors Her Bravest." The Gong, July-September, 2003.
Smoking ignited Gold Coast fire,
Chicago Tribune, January 26, 2002.