Valor Ceremony honors firefighters who risked their lives during Montecito Mudslide

The Montecito Fire Department honored two of their own with the Medal of Valor.

Chief Chip Hickman presented the awards to Wildland Specialist Maeve Juarez and Firefighter Paramedic Andy Rupp.

“They are humble and feel like their teams deserve these. The Valor Award is a very special award, it is the highest award given to any service officer in the nation, you have to have risked your life with willful disregard for your own in the attempt to save that life, it is a very high bar,” said Hickman.

Juarez saved John and Teri Keating who lived by the gas line that ruptured during the debris flow. Teri Keating said Juarez even gave her a shirt and pants out of her truck to cover up before she was rushed to the hospital.

Keating called Juarez her hero and said “God is good.”

The Keatings plan to rebuild their home.

A photo or Rupp saving Lauren Cantin went around the world.

Rupp also saved Lauren’s mother Kim. Kim Cantain brought her new service animal named Oreo to the ceremony. The Cantins lost a husband/father and brother/son. Jack Cantin, 17, is one of two children presumed dead even though their remains have not been found.

The firefighters took time to talk to the people they saved. They have a special bond, now.