An off-duty California fire captain, Chris Chang, displayed exceptional bravery by entering a burning nail salon to rescue trapped customers after an electric vehicle crashed into the establishment and ignited a fire. The incident occurred Wednesday in Mission Viejo.
Chang, an Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) captain, sprang into action shortly after the crash, which happened around 11:42 a.m. at Blossom Nails & Spa. His swift intervention potentially prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent businesses. Thick plumes of black smoke were seen billowing from the vehicle and the salon following the collision.
The OCFA noted that other firefighters were also quickly on the scene. The captain and engineer of Engine 12, who were following an ambulance on a separate call, diverted to the nail salon upon hearing the fire dispatch over the radio. They were the first official responders on site.
Video footage from the scene showed Chang rushing towards the burning building to assist firefighters in combating the flames. The fire caused significant damage to Blossom Nails & Spa, located at 24395 Alicia Parkway, though the rapid response limited the spread to a neighboring dry cleaner and a Mexican restaurant.
This incident is the latest in a series of fires involving electric vehicles, raising concerns about the safety of lithium-ion batteries. In April 2025, two people died when a Tesla crashed and caught fire in Claremont, and earlier this year, a Tesla in Los Angeles burst into flames after a collision.
Chang, a father of two, previously worked as a chiropractor before joining the OCFA.