Manteca’s 3-year-old heroine,  who ran two blocks to a Louise Avenue fire station to get help for her dad recently,  will be honored at the pre-game ceremonies Saturday for the Oakland A’s tribute to firefighters and civilian heroes.  

The team of firemen from Station 243 is scheduled to be on the field with Alesaundra Tafoya who ran to the fire station telling crew members that her daddy was like ice and wouldn’t wake up.

The team included Captain Robert Vilalovoz, firefighter Brian Swift and engineer Bob Jacobsen.   As the captain and one firefighter walked the little girl back up the street hand in hand, she led them to where they found her father Frank Tafoya unconscious in a living room chair.

The third fireman jumped into a fire engine and drove up the street behind the trio.  Doctors later commended the child, saying her dad would probably have died had it not been for her intervention in running to the fire station.

The story has touched many hearts and has reached countries around the world through the Internet connection.  Alesaundra and her fire buddies were all at the Manteca City Council meeting Tuesday night where the young girl received recognition for her quick thinking to get help for her father.

At the council meeting, members of the Seniors Assisting Fire Effort (SAFE) presented her with several pink toys including a doll and a stroller as well as read Alesaundra their own proclamation that said, in part, “when you are much, much older SAFE would like to have you as one of its members.”

The Oakland Athletics is honoring many firefighters prior to their 6:05 game against the Boston Red Sox at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on the anniversary of the twin towers attack in New York City.

As part of the “Firefighter Appreciation Night, “ the A’s will pay tribute to more than 50 Bay Area firefighters during the special pre-game activities that begin at 5:40 on the field.

In addition to honoring Alesaundra, the ball team has selected a Richmond man who forced his way into a burning building to save a trapped family, an Elk Grove man whose quick reaction to a fire igniting spark between his neighbor’s home saved the two families’ lives, and a group of high school students who are teaching fire safety tips to tenants of single-room-occupancy buildings in San Francisco’s Chinatown.  

Funds will be raised at the stadium Saturday night for firefighter charitable organizations in support of local burn foundations, fire safety and educational programs.

A portion of the proceeds raised through the A’s silent auction set up behind section 120 from the time the gates open until the end of the fifth inning will benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation of Northern California.