At about 7:30 on the morning of January 1, 1992, two North Hollywood Police Officers, David Porras and John Tarankow, were on patrol near the intersection of Oxnard Street and Lankershim Boulevard when they saw a column of smoke rising from the Peppertree Motel. They quickly parked their black-and-white and ran into the motel courtyard. Smoke was pouring through the upper half of the partially opened door of Room 31 and they could see a man lying semi-conscious on the floor. The curtains in the room were burning, and the bed was totally engulfed in flames. The room was so hot that the victim’s melting shoes had actually been fused together. His clothing had begun to burn in several places. Both officers rushed into the room, threw a blanket over the victim, and began to carry him through the door to safety. At that moment, the accumulated smoke and gases in the upper portion of the room suddenly exploded in a violent flashback. The large window next to the door shattered, throwing shards of glass over the victim and his rescuers. The fireball that blew through the door ignited a vehicle parked ten feet away in the courtyard. Miraculously, somehow the victim and the officers were unharmed by the blast. After taking the victim to safety, the officers returned to the burning structure to search for other victims. Due to common attic, Rooms 29 and 30 were now on fire, and the only way to get to them was through boiling smoke and a dark, narrow hallway. Without hesitation, the officers plunged forward and awakened the sleeping couple in Room 30. They covered them in blankets and led them to safety through smoke and falling embers. The officers returned to the hallway, and again plunged back through the flames. In Room 29, they awakened another sleeping couple. By now the heat was so intense that even though they were covered with blankets, the woman was burned in sever places while she and her husband were also led to safety by the officers. Just minutes later, the ears of a firefighter who entered the area were singed, and his helmet straps and flashlight lens were melted. Officers Porras as Tarankow realized the personal and terrible danger they faced. Yet, without hesitation, they plunged three times through that holocaust. Each had felt that they alone were the only hope for the victims inside the fire area. They risked their lives above and beyond the normal demands of police service and exhibited extreme courage and bravery in the face of extreme peril. For exemplifying the highest traditions of their Department, Officers David Porras and John Tarankow were awarded the highest honor that can be presented to a Los Angeles Police Officer: the Medal of Valor.