Charles Russell

On January 10, 2007, California Department of Transportation employees Charles Russell and Wayne Moeck were driving a Caltrans tow truck going east on the Coronado Bridge in San Diego when they saw black smoke on the horizon on the south side of the bridge and decided to see what they could do to help. They arrived on the scene and found children standing in front of a house, pointing towards the fire.

Noticeably absent from the scene were any other adults and the fire department. Mr. Moeck entered the smoke-filled house and called out to check if anyone was in the house.

In the meantime, Mr. Russell turned on the garden hose and was spraying water on the roof.

After checking several rooms in the house, Mr. Moeck spotted three disoriented figures through the smoke and led them out to safety.

Without a thought for their own personal safety, Mr. Moeck and Mr. Russell rescued a man, woman, and a dog from a burning house, saving them from injury or death.