SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A San Francisco man who rushed into a burning apartment building to rescue two people trapped by smoke and fire is being honored with a Carnegie Medal for his heroic action, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced Thursday.
Josué Alfredo Contreras was working as a bouncer at a Mission District bar on January 13, 2023, when he smelled smoke and heard someone scream from across the street, “My parents live up there!” according to fire officials. A large blaze had broken out on the second and third floors of a four-story apartment building at 3017 20th Street.
Contreras immediately dashed into the burning building and up three floors to find 67-year-old Reina Alvarado and her husband, 71-year-old Rene Alvarado, trapped by thick smoke. Reina was near the stairwell, and Contreras first pulled her out of danger down the stairs and out of the building.
Contreras again entered the building engulfed in flames and ran up the stairs to find Rene sitting on his bed. While pulling Rene from the smoke- and fire-filled room, Contreras became disoriented and lost his breath. After relocating the stairs, Contreras carried the man down to safety…