"It Was Something That Needed To Be Done"

Chuck Rees of Orange County saw smoke rising in the distance as he and his wife sat at a cafe. He leaped into action. Bystanders had already called 911 and knocked on the door with no response. That wasn't good enough for Chuck. He squeezed through a fence, scaled a six-foot high cinder block wall, pounded on a side door to wake the disbelieving resident inside, and led her and her dog outside to safety minutes before the house was engulfed in flames. Then he sped off without leaving his name for authorities (his mother-in-law who was also with them is the one who shared the story).

"It was something that needed to be done," Rees explained of his heroism.