Graham resident wins national heroism honor for rescue

Graham resident Isbel Jimenez has been awarded the Carnegie Medal, which is given to people who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. The award is given by the Carnegie Hero Fund that was created by Andrew Carnegie in 1904 to recognize civilian heroism in the United States and Canada. Jimenez, formerly of Breckenridge, was aided by Breckenridge Police officers Brian McBride and Brandon Berkley when he saved Jeannette Marshall from her burning home in that town during the early morning hours of Sept. 16, 2015. For their courageous acts, Jimenez, McBride and Berkley were recognized last October by Breckenridge Mayor Jimmy McKay, Fire Chief Calvin Chaney and Police Chief Larry Mahan. Jimenez said he was notified Sept. 26 that he had been awarded the Carnegie Medal. “Well, I mean, I’m still kind of numb,” Jimenez said during a phone interview last Wednesday. “I’m really happy that I got that, and I’m really happy that Jeannette is doing well.” He said he was contacted about the incident by the Carnegie Hero Fund back in March by phone, but never really heard much else about it except that the fund was investigating and gathering information. Eric Zahren, with the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, said there is a thorough investigative process that takes place. He said they look at the basic facts and start putting facts and reports together and see if it’s an act that can potentially be rewarded, based on their guidelines. Then, he said, as the process continues, if everything seems to check out, the case is researched further by one of their investigators. Once it’s fully investigated, the case goes to the board, a 21-person commission, which ultimately makes the decision. “All the cases are very inspiring, in terms of what people still do to try to save their fellows,” Zahren said. “His case is a very good case; it’s always an honor for us to be able to make the awards. Only about 10 percent of the cases that are nominated are actually awarded. So, we look at lot more cases than we actually award.” The incident that earned Jimenez the medal occurred sometime after 3 a.m. that September 2015 morning. He said he woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep. A few minutes later, he heard a commotion outside that would lead to a series of events in the next three minutes that would put his life in peril. Across the back fence from Jimenez’s apartment, Officer Berkley was already frantically working to free Jeannette Marshall, who was unconscious in her flame-engulfed mobile home. McBride was not far behind, rushing to the scene in his patrol car to help. Berkley said the woman’s husband had escaped out of a window and was trying to help his wife out so she didn’t fall because there was a 5- or 6-foot drop from the window. Berkley realized that he couldn’t fit through that small window to help the woman out. When Jimenez heard the commotion going on outside, he ran toward the fire and soon learned from others that Marshall was still inside. Flames were blocking the mobile home’s front door. Jimenez realized he could fit through the bathroom window, so he propped a board against the home and used it as a step to access the window, the base of which was about 5 feet off the ground. Jimenez entered, finding himself in the bathroom, where heat was intense and the smoke severely restricted visibility. He searched for Marshall, finding her unresponsive on the floor in that room. Maneuvering her to the window, he lifted her and handed her out to Berkley and McBride. They lowered her to the ground, and then Jimenez escaped back through the same window. Both Marshall and Jimenez received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation, and they recovered. During the awards presentation at the Breckenridge City Commissioner’s meeting last October, Chief Chaney said Jimenez represents the kind of person who gets involved, someone who took great risk to his life to save a fellow human being. “He jumped into a burning structure, smoke to the floor, fire coming down hallway. He climbed into the structure and lifted her up to the window sill,” Chaney said. “We wear lots of gear to protect us to go into those environments … He wore just what he has on tonight, a shirt and pants, and held his breath as long as he could and helped her to get out the window.” Carnegie officials said they won’t know for a couple of months just when and where Jimenez will receive his medal.