IRVINE : Turtle Rock to Honor Firefighters, Police

Police officers and firefighters who helped protect Turtle Rock residents and homes from the Laguna Canyon firestorm will be honored Thursday during a ceremony at Irvine High School.

The event will take place at half-time during a football game between University and Irvine high schools. Turtle Rock residents and members of the University High Football Boosters Club will present Police Chief Charles S. Brobeck and officials of the Orange County Fire Department with plaques of appreciation.

“They literally helped save our community,” said resident Mark Silberfarb, an organizer of the ceremony. “People don’t realize how close Turtle Rock came to becoming another Laguna Beach.”

Police officers, firefighters and their families will attend the football game at no charge. At halftime, they will be asked to come onto the field to take part in the ceremonies.

“We figure that it’s about time that they got the recognition for the positive things they do,” Silberfarb said. “They are the unsung heroes of the fire. They risked their lives.”

Flames came perilously close to the hilly Turtle Rock village on the night of Oct. 27, forcing parts of the development near UC Irvine to be evacuated. A shift in the wind combined with backfires set by firefighters helped spare Turtle Rock from any damage. On the morning of Oct. 28, residents were allowed back into their homes.

Silberfarb said the professionalism and calmness of police and fire officials was impressive during the evacuation and firefighting.

“They had a great attitude,” he said. “They had a caring attitude and took time to explain the situation to us. There was no panic.”

The football game will be in Irvine District Stadium on the Irvine High School campus, 4321 Walnut Ave. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. and ceremony will take place between 8 and 8:30 p.m.