Two Coconut Creek Firefighters Honored for Helping Earthquake Victims in Venezuela

by David Volz August 14, 2026

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Ryan Nemesek and Francisco Herrera. {David Volz}

The Coconut Creek Commission recognized Battalion Chief Ryan Nemesek and Captain Francisco Herrera during the August 13 meeting for their humanitarian urban search-and-rescue deployment to Venezuela.

They participated in Florida Task Force 2, an urban search-and-rescue team composed of multi-agency first responders from South Florida.

“We worked long hours shoring up buildings, digging, and doing everything to save people who were trapped under buildings,” said Nemesek.

They worked in La Guaira State and spent approximately ten days from late June to early July. The team worked hard to save a man trapped under a large building, according to Herrera.

“I am proud that we were able to go there and help their people affected by the earthquake,” said Herrera.

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David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.