Brian Marino, a PG&E lineman and 12-year IBEW 1245 member, was working near Oroville, CA doing a simple tag service at a meter. As he was leaving the job, a smoking car on the side of the road caught his eye.
“At first I thought I was just going to stop and help someone that was overheating, and then I realized there was a fire,” Marino recalled.
He could tell that the driver needed his help immediately, and he didn’t have time to stay on the line with 9-1-1, so Marino quickly contacted his supervisor and asked him to call in the emergency. Then, without missing a beat, Marino ran over to help the man inside the car.
“He thought his truck was just cutting out, and he wanted me to call AAA for him,” explained Marino. “He didn’t even realize the truck was on fire. And he had limited mobility, and couldn’t really stand unassisted.”
The man had a mobility scooter on the back of his car, which Marino helped him unload and get onto, and ushered him away from the burning vehicle.
After helping the man to safety, Marino went back to extinguish the fire. “By then, his car was smoking pretty good, and there were flames coming up. I did the best I could with my fire extinguisher and backpack to stop the fire.”
Now, the situation was attracting more attention along the country road. A passerby hauling livestock pulled up and offered to help Marino extinguish the fire. Around that time, the local fire department also arrived.
Marino recognized that the danger posed by a car fire can escalate quickly, particularly in light of recent devastating wildfires in California. He acted quickly to protect a man’s life and also to help stop the fire before spreading into nearby areas.
“It was right next to our pole line. And right next to dry fields with a bunch of tall, dry grass. I’ve had experience with a lot of wildfires through work and around my house. If I can put out the fire, then I’ll do it, or do my best to. That’s our way of thinking.”