CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Corona del Mar Heroes Honored

A Corona del Mar firefighter and schoolteacher were honored today at the 7th Annual Bravo for Bravery breakfast.

The event, held at the Marconi Auto Museum in Tustin, honors people throughout Orange County who have performed heroic acts during emergency situations, said Newport Beach Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Schulz.

“Several local heroes, Fire Captain Justin Carr, Lifeguards Matt Meyer, Matt Blackford, Greg Meyer, Andrew Belden, Randy Lempert as well as a Civilian Charlie Fisher were nominated by us and honored for their acts during emergencies in Newport Beach,” she said.

Carr was nominated for a rescue in May 2009 along Interstate 15, Schulz said.

“Carr was driving home from vacation with his wife, Lara and children when they suddenly saw brake lights ahead of them and a cloud of dust,” according to a statement read at the ceremony. “As they drove closer, they saw a damaged car with people walking around the car dazed. Justin and his wife realized that the car had been in a rollover crash and they could see the driver was still trapped inside. A fire had started in the engine so there was no time to waste. Justin immediately pulled over to assist…As other drivers stopped and began to gather around, Justin began to act as he was trained. He and the other men tried to open the door but it was jammed. Justin organized the men to work together and pull as hard as they could on the door. After several, intense minutes of forcing the door it finally gave and Justin and a fellow Good Samaritan grabbed the driver by the belt of his pants and extricated him from the car. They carried him about 30 feet and as they laid him down they turned to look at the battered car whose cab was now engulfed in flames.”

Firefighters arrived moments later, but it would have been too late to save the driver.

“Without the quick actions of Justin, this incident could have had the same tragic ending,” the statement said.

Fisher, a Lincoln Elementary School teacher, was recognized for making sure no one was trapped in a house that caught fire on Orchid Avenue in January; read our story here.

Fisher said he was driving to work when he saw smoke and stopped to help.

“I could see the smoke and thought, ‘That’s not right,’ ” Fisher told Corona del Mar Today. “I called 911 and went to the front door and saw a note to someone that said ‘Love, Dad,’ and I thought, ‘Awww…somebody’s in there.’”

The house was in fact empty, but fire officials said his bravery could have helped save a life, and that his actions were admirable.

Top photo courtesy of the Newport Beach Fire Department.