Los Alamos County Council gathers with Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) staff and residents Diane and Anthony Montoya, seated at center, to honor the Phoenix Award recipients during Tuesday’s work session. Back row from left, Deputy Fire Chief Tim Johnson, Firefighter Nicholas Lopez, Councilor David Reagor, Driver Engineer Michael Manzanares, Firefighter Jennifer Edmunds, Firefighter Paramedic Brian Thomas, Driver Engineer Paramedic Dustin Rogers, Council Chair Randall Ryti and EMS Division Chief Manuel Pacheco. Front row from left, Council Vice Chair Ryn Herrmann, Councilor Melanee Hand, Level II Communications Specialist Amanda Bucklin, Captain Paramedic Chris Rondeau, Diane and Anthony Montoya, Councilor Beverly Neal-Clinton and Councilor Suzie Havemann. Photo by Kirsten Laskeyladailypost.com/
Los Alamos resident Anthony Montoya, left, expresses his gratitude to everyone who helped save him from cardiac arrest. Montoya, along with his wife Diane, attended Tuesday’s Council meeting to help present LAFD staff and others with Phoenix Awards for their heroic efforts. Photo by Kirsten Laskeyladailypost.com/
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Before diving into routine discussions on County operations, Los Alamos County Council took a moment to celebrate an extraordinary event during its work session Tuesday.
Los Alamos resident Anthony Montoya was successfully revived from cardiac arrest in the fall of 2025, which was a testament not only to Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) personnel but also to his family’s quick thinking and response.
To honor all the individuals involved in this heroic achievement, LAFD presented Phoenix Award certificates and commemorative coins to each of them.
EMS Division Chief Manuel Pacheco presented the awards along with Montoya. They were also joined by Fire Chief Erik Litzenberg, retiring Fire Chief Wendy Servey, Deputy Chief Tim Johnson, Wildland Chief Van Leimer, Fire Marshall Colorado Cordova and C Shift Battalion Chief Matt Munoz.
Anthony offered his thanks and praise to everyone.
“I would like to thank the paramedics who were instrumental in saving my life,” he said. “While I don’t remember anything, these guys did a good job …”
He praised his wife, Diane, who dialed 911, as well as his daughter, Destiney Montoya, and his neice, Madison Trivezo-Montoya, who both acted to open his airways.
Anthony added, “the paramedics took over, doing CPR several times without breaking any ribs, they took me to Los Alamos Medical Center and then I took a ride in a helicopter to Christus St. Vincent where they continuously (saved my life) through five pulmonary embolisms. This was quite a miracle (although) I didn’t get to enjoy the helicopter ride. I also give a big thanks to all those people who prayed for me … thank you, guys.”
Diane also expressed her gratitude, praising LAFD for their quick response time.
She read a letter from Destiney and Madison, in which they wrote, “We are grateful for the firefighters who saved our dad’s life and will be forever thankful …. without you he wouldn’t be here today … we thank you for all that you have done and will never forget your faces. Thank you so much for saving our dad.”
“It is an honor to be here to recognize an exceptional life-saving event that reflects the best, the very best of public service in Los Alamos County…,” Pacheco said.
The Phoenix Award, he explained, is “one of the most prestigious honors in emergency medical services.” It is presented to emergency responders who “successfully resuscitate a patient from cardiac arrest and whose actions result in the patient being discharged from the hospital with no … neurological deficit.”
The meeting room at the White Rock Fire Station was packed not only with LAFD personnel and Anthony and Diane Montoya but staff from the Los Alamos Police Department and dispatch. It further cemented just how incredible this whole experience was – that through teamwork and unity, Anthony survived cardiac arrest.
As Pacheco said, “The award symbolizes rebirth, a second chance at life. Achieving this outcome is an exceptionally rare circumstance. Naturally only about 10 percent of hospital cardiac arrest patients survive hospital discharge and fewer than five percent do so with good neurological outcomes. Success requires immediate recognition, early CPR, rapid defibrillation, advance life support and seamless teamwork under immense pressure.”
Pointing to Anthony, Pacheco added, “His presence here is a powerful reminder of the impact of preparation, teamwork and compassion.”
Phoenix Award Recipients:
- Level II Communications Specialist Amanda Bucklin
- Firefighter Nicholas Lopez
- Captain Paramedic Chris Rondeau
- Driver Engineer Michael Manzanares
- Firefighter Jennifer Edmunds
- Firefighter Paramedic Brian Thomas
- Driver Engineer Paramedic Dustin Rogers
- Firefighter Steven Tenorio
- Firefighter and Paramedic Adrian Vigil
- Los Alamos Resident Destiney Montoya
- Los Alamos Resident Madison Trevizo-Montoya
Firefighter and Phoenix Award recipient Nicholas Lopez, left, shakes EMS Division Chief Manuel Pacheco's hand during Tuesday’s work session. The Phoenix Award was presented to LAFD staff and others for saving Anthony Montoya’s life, seated. Photo by Kirsten Laskeyladailypost.com/
Fire Chief Erik Litzenberg, left, at Tuesday’s work session, joins others congratulating Capt. Paramedic Chris Rondeau and those receiving a Phoenix Award for their heroic efforts that saved the life of a Los Alamos man. Photo by Kirsten Laskeyladailypost.com/