Off-Duty Fire Captain Rushes Into Burning Mission Viejo Nail Salon

An electric vehicle crashed into a nail salon in Mission Viejo on Wednesday morning, bursting into flames and sending thick black smoke into the air. The incident occurred at a strip mall near Alicia Parkway and Via Linda. Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Chris Chang was off duty but nearby when the collision happened.

Chang ran immediately into the burning building. According to the fire authority, his primary goal was to verify that every person inside had evacuated safely. Video released by the department shows flames engulfing the vehicle and smoke billowing from the storefront as crews arrived.

Engine 12 responded to the scene shortly after the crash. The firefighters were already on a call, following an ambulance transporting a patient to a hospital for an unrelated emergency. Upon arrival, the crew stretched hoses toward the burning vehicle and sprayed water to extinguish the fire.

The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet released details on whether anyone was injured in the incident. The vehicle sustained heavy damage as it slammed into the business.

The fire was contained by the arriving crews. No further updates were provided regarding the structural damage to the salon or the timeline for reopening the location.