Glendale mail carrier earns Postmaster General Hero Award
Usa today news
A U.S. Postal Service carrier from Glendale who used a garden hose to keep a house fire from jumping to another home received the Postmaster General Hero Award.
Victor Castaneda of the USPS Glendale Verdugo Viejo station was honored on Thursday morning in a ceremony at the post office at 315 E. Broadway.
He was joined by colleagues, U.S. Postal Service managers and one of the residents on Castaneda’s route.
Cipriano Corona, district manager of USPS for Glendale, thanks U.S. Postal Service carrier Victor Castaneda, of Los Angeles, after presenting him with the Postmaster General Hero Award at the Glendale Post Office on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025 with Anita Siraki, who nominated him and lost her home in the fire, and Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian. Castaneda used a garden hose to keep the fire from Siraki’s house from jumping to another home on his Glendale Verdugo Viejo route in February. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
U.S. Postal Service workers watch Victor Castaneda, of Los Angeles, receive the Postmaster General Hero Award at the Glendale Post Office on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. Castaneda used a garden hose to keep a house fire from jumping to another home on his Glendale Verdugo Viejo route in February. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
U.S. Postal Service carrier Victor Castaneda, of Los Angeles, receives the Postmaster General Hero Award at the Glendale Post Office on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. Castaneda used a garden hose to keep a house fire from jumping to another home on his Glendale Verdugo Viejo route in February. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
U.S. Postal Service carrier Victor Castaneda, of Los Angeles, receives the Postmaster General Hero Award at the Glendale Post Office on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025 from Cipriano Corona, district manager of USPS for Glendale. Castaneda used a garden hose to keep a house fire from jumping to another home on his Glendale Verdugo Viejo route in February. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
U.S. Postal Service carrier Victor Castaneda, of Los Angeles, receives the Postmaster General Hero Award at the Glendale Post Office on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. Castaneda used a garden hose to keep a house fire from jumping to another home on his Glendale Verdugo Viejo route in February. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Cipriano Corona, district manager of USPS for Glendale, thanks U.S. Postal Service carrier Victor Castaneda, of Los Angeles, after presenting him with the Postmaster General Hero Award at the Glendale Post Office on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025 with Anita Siraki, who nominated him and lost her home in the fire, and Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian. Castaneda used a garden hose to keep the fire from Siraki’s house from jumping to another home on his Glendale Verdugo Viejo route in February. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The award is presented to individuals who perform a heroic act above and beyond their call of duty.
The good deed Castaneda was recognized for happened on Feb. 3, when he noticed smoke rising from the rooftop of a 100-year-old duplex.
As flames began to engulf the duplex, “Castaneda rushed toward the burning house,” according to a USPS statement.
“Acting selflessly, he sprang into action, grabbing a neighbor’s garden hose to combat the blaze when the occupant, Anita Siraki, and a distressed roofing crew were unable to contain it,” officials said.
Siraki’s home was destroyed, but firefighters said Castaneda’s actions may have helped them keep the fire from spreading to another house.
“For 250 years, the Postal Service has served as an anchor to bind the nation and the communities we serve. Employees like Victor are a prime embodiment of that endearing commitment to service,” stated Glendale Postmaster Prince Vann IV.
Over 5,500 individuals have been honored since the U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General Heroes Program was created in 2003.
