Volunteer firefighter rescues woman from burning jeep near Nanaimo

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A volunteer firefighter says he just did what he believes any firefighter from his department would’ve done when he got involved in a dramatic rescue over the weekend near Nanaimo.

With no time to go to the Firehall, the young firefighter jumped into action and pulled an injured woman from a burning vehicle.

It happened just after midnight Saturday on Munroe Road, west of Nanaimo, when the driver of a jeep missed a corner, crashed into a ditch and knocked over a power line, causing the jeep to catch fire.

Neighbour Shane Smart was the first to arrive on the scene.

“All I could hear was a young woman screaming that they need help so I assumed there was more than one person in the vehicle on fire. I tried to get into the vehicle and I had no luck and it kind of panicked me so I freaked out and started screaming for my neighbours,” said Smart.

25-year-old Mark McCallum soon arrived. The seven-year volunteer firefighter with the East Wellington Fire Department had already called 9-1-1, but he quickly realized there wasn’t time to wait for help to arrive.

“Knew I had a little bit of time to get in and look around so I climbed over some branches back there and managed to open the passenger side door. [I] found the girl and got her pulled out,” said McCallum.

Shane Smart then checked to ensure there were no passengers.

Minutes later paramedics then police and firefighters arrived. The jeep was fully in flames by the time firefighters got there.

“If she was waiting for the fire department to arrive I’m not sure what would’ve happened,” said McCallum.

“I think she might’ve died in the fire. There was so much smoke and so much fire in such a short amount of time,” said Smart.

BC Ambulance took the woman, who is in her early 20’s, to the hospital. Police say she sustained serious injuries including lacerations, broken bones and second-degree burns.

A Firehall captain says McCallum went beyond the call of duty.

“As a civilian, not having reached the Firehall or having his gear he took it upon himself to step in and do what needed to be done,” said Captain Darcy Morgan with East Wellington Fire Department.

McCallum says he’s just glad that the timing aligned so he was able to make the rescue happen.

“I never expected I’d have to do something like that but training definitely paid off to help me assess the risks and go ahead and do it,” said McCallum.

Police say they’re investigating the driver for impaired driving and they’re looking at recognizing McCallum for his heroic actions.

The East Wellington Fire Department is completely volunteer.

Just over a week ago a house fire claimed the life of a 95-year-old man in Nanaimo.

Kendall HansonKendall Hanson

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