The Kearny Town Council along with Kearny Police and Fire presented special awards to Jon Bailey Sr. and Jon Bailey Jr. Photo by Nichole Aranda
At the Kearny Town Council meeting held Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, Jon Bailey Sr. and Jon Bailey Jr. were recognized for “courageously, selflessly and without hesitation” leaping into action when a wildfire broke out near the 200 block of Mountain View Drive and Upton Road in Kearny on Feb. 11, 2025. As the fire quickly encroached nearby houses, the two Kearny residents kept these homes from being lost. The father/son duo “demonstrated bravery and heroism when they took action during a fire in a potentially life-threatening situation,” Mayor Curtis Stacy proclaimed.
Using water houses from adjacent houses near the fire, this father and son duo helped suppress the fire until emergency crews arrived. The mayor’s proclamation stated, “The actions of Jon Bailey, Sr. and Jon Bailey, Jr., greatly minimized damage caused by the fire and protected the lives of the citizens of Kearny.”
Surrounded by Vice Mayor Aleynia Boatman and the other Town Council Members, Fire Chief Bud Stepke, Assistant Fire Chief Rudy Guerena and Police Chief Wallace Kenney, the Baileys were presented with an award for their efforts.
Holli Lerma, who’s neighbor Jim McGrane also assisted with fire efforts, said, “I am very thankful for them and my neighbor. They could have just called it in and kept going. They went above and beyond. They saved my house and other property. I am eternally grateful.”
“Thank you to the two guys who ran into our yard to save our house!” said Vincent De La Ossa along with numerous other residents who reached out via Facebook. Kearny is very fortunate to have such brave individuals who care and look out for each other.