IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
A UCLA undergraduate has been honored by an Inland Empire company for his heroics during the Pacific Palisades fires in January.
Andrew Grinsfelder, an Eagle Scout, received the Maglite Tough Civilian Hero Award during a ceremony March 4 at Maglite’s Ontario headquarters. Maglite makes high-end flashlights used by police and the military.
Grinsfelder used a gas-powered generator and pump and soaked the roof of the family home as flames and burning embers approached the structure. Later, he did similar acts at several other nearby homes, possibly saving them.
“I was on the roof the entire night,” Grinsfelder said during an interview prior to receiving his award. “I was nervous, and my heart was racing a little bit. You could see the helicopters overhead. I proceeded to hose down our house and the houses next to us. It was very nerve-wracking experience.”
Grinsfelder was presented with a large MAGLITE® inscribed with his name by Tony Maglica, founder and owner of Mag Instrument Inc., the company that designs and manufactures Maglite flashlights.
“What Andrew did was extraordinarily brave and ingenious,” said Maglica. “We are happy to honor him. I am sure this young man has a bright future ahead of him.”
The Grinsfelder family has a history with Maglite flashlights, which are known for their high quality and extreme durability.
“It seems like we always had one around the house,” Grinsfelder said.
