Two members of the Cleveland Division of Fire have officially been recognized for what everyone downtown already knew was a nerve‑racking save. Yesterday, Feb. 14, the department awarded its Florian Cross to Firefighter Richard Ochoa and Firefighter Darrick Tibyash for their roles in a June 4, 2025 rooftop rescue that pulled three tuck‑pointing workers to safety after a scaffold failure on a five‑story building. Crews, including Tower 1 and the two honorees, secured the workers and brought them down without any reported injuries.
How the rescue unfolded
According to News 5 Cleveland, crews were dispatched around noon to West Lakeside Avenue near West 6th Street after exterior scaffolding collapsed during tuck‑pointing work. The failure left three workers dangling from their safety harnesses several stories up. One worker managed to climb inside through a nearby window, while Tower 1’s aerial was used to get firefighters in position to reach the other two. News 5 reports the incident was handled as an Emergency Rope Rescue and that no injuries were reported.
Tower 1's role at the scene
Cleveland 19 published photos along with the department's initial social media post, which showed Tower 1 set up with its aerial extended along the side of the downtown building. The station noted that nearby streets were temporarily shut down while crews worked overhead, then reopened once the rescue wrapped up. Officials said firefighters moved quickly and that all three workers ultimately made it down without injury.
Awards and the firefighters recognized
In a Facebook post on Feb. 14, 2026, the Cleveland Division of Fire wrote that Ochoa and Tibyash "climbed into the aerial bucket and helped secure and return the workers to the ground," and announced that both received the Florian Cross, as detailed by the Cleveland Division of Fire. The post also pointed out that both firefighters have prior experience in the building trades, a bit of real‑world background that likely did not hurt when they found themselves face to face with a scaffold emergency. A public payroll listing shows a Richard Ochoa on the city firefighter roster; see GovSalaries for the listing.
What the Florian Cross signifies
The Florian Cross is reserved for lifesaving actions or duties that are considered unusually hazardous. News 5 Cleveland coverage of this month’s department awards ceremony shows the medal being presented to crews whose work clearly prevented serious injury or worse. That same ceremony highlighted other rescues, including a Lake Erie response that earned the Cross for two different firefighters. Department leaders used the event to hammer home a familiar theme, crediting training and teamwork as key to those outcomes.
Construction safety context
Scaffold mishaps are a known hazard in construction. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration notes that many scaffold accidents stem from problems with planking or support, slips, or falling objects, and that fall protection is required for most work performed more than 10 feet above a lower level. OSHA recommends regular inspections, proper guardrails or fall‑arrest systems, and thorough worker training to keep these kinds of emergencies from happening in the first place. The June 4 rescue is a textbook reminder of how quickly a routine job can turn precarious and how specialized high‑angle rescue training can change the ending.
The department's Facebook post closed by thanking all the crews involved and again underscored training and teamwork as crucial when those high‑risk calls come in.
