Three Men Who Ran Toward Fiery Boat Explosion in Fort Lauderdale Honored for Heroism
A Brave Response to Disaster
On December 23 at 6 p.m., a 37-foot boat suddenly exploded at a marina in Fort Lauderdale, killing one person and injuring six others. The fire from the explosion spread to another boat, and seven people were on board. Six of them were hospitalized, with several suffering serious injuries. Divers searched the water for a final person who was pronounced dead on the scene.
Civilian Heroes Honored
Fort Lauderdale Fire officials honored three men who stepped up and ran toward danger that night. They were recognized with a civilian firefighter’s award for their heroism during the incident.
Moses Lopez: A Hero at the Scene
Moses Lopez was working at the dock at the Lauderdale Marina and was at the bow of the boat during the explosion. Instead of running away, Lopez immediately ran back toward the boat and helped people to safety. “It was definitely way worse on the video than I thought, I’ll tell you that,” Lopez said. “I wasn’t expecting to see what I saw on the video. That’s why I didn’t tell mom about it, really. But yeah, it was definitely a really bad video to see.”
Scott Stempkoski and Tamer Dimiati: Quick Thinking Saves Lives
Scott Stempkoski and Tamer Dimiati worked to start a fire hose line before the fire department arrived, saving precious seconds. “We heard a big boom and you had two choices. You either run away or run towards it,” Stempkoski said. “We ran towards it and tried to help people out as much as we could. You know, as they say, we wish we could have done better. Well, we lost the guy.” Dimiati added, “I mean, it was a very hard moment to be like, okay, listen, I’m going to go out there and try to save somebody’s life when an explosion just happened. I mean, and then a fire following that. But, you know, it is scary. A lot of people did leave, but we were the ones that they’d go out there and try to do our best to save the people that were injured and were hurt.”
Fire Chief Praises Their Actions
Fort Lauderdale’s fire chief, Stephen Gollan, praised the men’s actions, saying, “You know, with firefighters and police officers, we expect them to respond in an appropriate manner. However, when there’s civilians just going about their daily routine of working at a restaurant or working on a field dock, you don’t expect them to spring into action like these individuals did. There’s no doubt in my mind that their quick response saved lives, saved properties, and truly made a difference that day.”
Conclusion
The bravery and quick thinking of Moses Lopez, Scott Stempkoski, and Tamer Dimiati undoubtedly saved lives and prevented further damage. Their selfless actions are a testament to the human spirit and a reminder that even in the face of disaster, ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
FAQs
Q: What happened during the boat explosion?
A: A 37-foot boat suddenly exploded at a marina in Fort Lauderdale, killing one person and injuring six others.
Q: Who were the three men honored for their heroism?
A: Moses Lopez, Scott Stempkoski, and Tamer Dimiati were recognized with a civilian firefighter’s award for their bravery during the incident.
Q: What did the men do to help during the incident?
A: Lopez helped people to safety, while Stempkoski and Dimiati worked to start a fire hose line before the fire department arrived, saving precious seconds.
