An off-duty California fire captain rushed into a burning nail salon Wednesday after an electric vehicle crashed into the business and erupted in flames, helping rescue customers trapped inside.
Orange County Fire Authority Captain Chris Chang responded to the emergency at Blossom Nails & Spa in Mission Viejo after the crash ignited a fire at about 11:42 a.m. His quick action may have helped keep the flames from spreading to nearby businesses.
“This morning, an electric vehicle crashed into a nail salon and immediately caught fire. Off-duty OCFA Fire Captain Chris Chang sprang into action, running into the burning salon to make sure everyone was out,” the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) said.
Chang was not the only firefighter in the area when the crash occurred.
“Engine 12s captain and engineer were nearby, following an ambulance in which their two firefighter/paramedics were transporting a patient to the hospital on a different call. When the captain and engineer heard the fire dispatch on the radio, they diverted to the nail salon where they were first on scene,” OCFA added.
Video from the scene showed dense black smoke pouring from the burning vehicle as Chang joined firefighters working to extinguish the blaze.
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The crash occurred at Blossom Nails & Spa, at 24395 Alicia Parkway, near a dry cleaner and Casa Franco, a Mexican restaurant.
Firefighters’ swift response prevented the blaze from causing serious damage to the neighboring businesses.
Chang took an unconventional route into the fire service. Before joining the OCFA, he worked as a chiropractor. He is now the father of two children.
The incident is the latest in a series of electric vehicle crashes involving intense fires, renewing concerns about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.
In April 2025, two people died after a Tesla crashed into a tree and caught fire in Claremont. The vehicle’s lithium batteries fed the blaze, leading authorities to call in a hazardous materials team.
Earlier this year, a white Tesla erupted into a terrifying fireball following a crash in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, sending two people to the hospital.
