Richardson honored for saving men from burning home
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The city of Lakeport bestowed a medal for heroism to a man who last year raced to save two men from a burning home.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen and retired Lakeport Fire Chief Jeff Thomas presented the Lakeport Police and Fire Life Saving Medal to Larry Richardson during Tuesday night’s Lakeport City Council meeting.
City officials called Richardson a hero for risking his own life to save two men from their burning home on Sept. 8, 2021.
At 8:10 a.m. that day, Richardson was on duty working at the Lake County Fairgrounds when he saw smoking coming from the Fairgrounds Village Mobile Home Park, a park for residents age 55 and over located at 1025 Martin St.
Richardson saw the fire before it was dispatched and was able to get there before police and fire arrived, according to original scene reports and statements Rasmussen made Tuesday.
When Richardson arrived at the park, he located the fire in the residence in space No. 2.
Both Rasmussen and Thomas — who retired last month — were on the scene that morning, arriving after Richardson.
Rasmussen said that Richardson, knowing the mobile home was occupied, risked his own life in order to go in and rescue the two people inside, both of whom had been burned by the time he came in to save them.
Thomas told Lake County News in a September interview that Richardson went into the home and physically picked up a man who couldn’t walk and carried him out before going in for the second man and helping him to safety as well.
Both of the men were taken to the hospital for treatment of their burns. Thomas said the fire’s source was traced to a cigarette.
“I can’t overemphasize the efforts of Larry Richardson to get those people out,” Thomas said in the September interview, adding, “He saved their lives.”
Rasmussen emphasized that as well on Tuesday. He told Richardson, “Due to your actions both residents survived this disaster,” adding that his actions in the situation were well above and beyond those required by any citizen.
He then presented Richardson with a plaque featuring the Lakeport Police and Fire Life Saving Medal along with a letter of commendation. Richardson then received a standing ovation.
Mayor Stacey Mattina asked Richardson if he wanted to say anything.
“My heart says, don’t do it again, but I know I will,” Richardson said.
“You’re our hero, Larry,” Mattina said, calling him a great neighbor, friend and parent — and now a hero.
In addition to those titles, Sheli Wright, the Lake County Fair’s chief executive officer, told Lake County News after the fire last year that Richardson is the fair’s “maintenance man extraordinaire.”
He’s also president of the Lake County Theatre Co. and formerly held the title of Mr. Lake County.
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