On May 30, 2012 at 1336 hours, Officer Jesse Ochoa responded to a radio call of a structure fire at 4431 51st St. San Diego. When Officer Ochoa arrived, the back addition to the home was fully engulfed, but the residents had already fled the home. The flames were now perilously close to an apartment complex next to the home. Officer Ochoa was initially unable to get up to the individual apartments due to the flames and intense heat. Officer Ochoa went to the rear of the complex where other officers were attempting to get a female resident of one of the apartments to climb down a ladder the officers had placed up to her apartment window . The heat and flames had trapped the female in her apartment, but she was too scared to climb down the ladder. Officer Ochoa quickly realized the danger and went back to the front of the complex to see if he could get past the flames and smoke to gain access to the front door of her apartment. With no fire personnel yet on the scene, Officer Ochoa had only seconds to make a decision. Officer Ochoa committed to performing a rescue. He climbed the stairs of the apartment complex with burning palm trees to his right and a burning fence to his left. He located the apartment and kicked the door open. He located the female inside and threw a blanket over her head. . He then wrapped the female into his body and shielded her from the fire while descending the stairs and bringing her to safety. Officer Ochoa suffered second degree burns to his arms and face while protecting the female and bringing her to safety . Without Officer Ochoa's direct intervention and rescue, it is highly likely the female would have suffered grave injury or death. In keeping in the highest traditions of police service, Officer Ochoa displayed heroism by risking bodily harm to save the life of a citizen.