City to honor firefighters who rescued woman, 84

Judy Odierna

Friday, Jan. 17, 2003 | 9:18 a.m.

Hazel Benevides never imagined her concrete house would catch fire.

But when one did break out in her water heater closet in October, the 84-year-old woman found herself trapped in her bedroom behind the burglar bars on her windows.

Thankfully, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue came to her aid.

Though Station 8 Capt. Mark E. Hyken said it was all in a day's work, the city has decided to honor the seven firefighters by giving them Las Vegas Fire and Rescue's Unit Citation Award at 9 a.m. Wednesday during the City Council meeting at City Hall, 400 Stewart Ave.

"It's nice that the city is doing that, but this is basically what we do," Hyken said. "We are paid to do this. It's nice to be recognized but that's not why we do this job. We do it because we like to help people."

About 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 27, Benevides awoke to a smoked-filled bedroom and immediately called the fire department.

"They got here in a minute and a half," she said.

But the firefighters ran into a snag when they reached Benevides' home on the 3000 block of Lava Avenue -- older model security bars on all the windows and doors.

"The new style security bars have a release on them, these didn't," Hyken said. "They are great at keeping burglars out but they also keep firefighters out. They aren't going to stop us from coming through but they do slow us down a bit."

Firefighters forced open the front door, got to Benevides and carried her to safety. Benevides suffered some smoke inhalation and was treated at Valley Hospital Medical Center.

"It has been a mind-boggling experience," she said. "What was marvelous was one of the firefighters came back in to get my purse. My whole life was in that purse."

Hyken said seeing Benevides soon after the fire at a school where she volunteers, and where the firefighters perform drills for students, reminded them of the positives of their job.

"That's what made us feel good," Hyken said. "Just to see her and see she's OK."

Benevides said she's excited to see the group get the award.

"I think it's wonderful and I'm very happy," she said. "I'm glad they got here when they did or I wouldn't be here today."