CHUCK BALLARO William Carley jumped into action and helped extinguish a fire on June 30 at the Vista Palms Apartments, located off of Stafford Creek Court.

William Carley was a United States Marine, which means that while people are running away from danger, he is running into it.

So, when he saw smoke billowing from an apartment on June 30 at the Vista Palms Apartments, located off of Stafford Creek Court, he went in to put out the flames and make sure that nobody was inside even before firefighters and law enforcement had arrived on the scene.

According to Carley, there was no one inside the home and the fire was extinguished. He experienced some smoke inhalation, but he refused hospitalization – Carley had a Bible-study class to attend.

“I am a Marine, an Eagle Scout and a follower of Christ. Those three things told me to do it. Nobody else was going in there,” he said.

At about 4:15 p.m., a grease fire started in one of the apartments. Carley, who was waiting to be picked up for class, noticed smoke coming out of the apartment as people milled about, taking pictures.

“There appeared to be a haze, and it turned out to be black smoke. A woman came out and started yelling ‘Fire, fire,'” Carley said. “I walked toward the building and the smoke was getting thick and people were standing there with their cameras.”

Carley’s Marine instincts kicked in. He went in, found a fire extinguisher and, with the help of another resident, went inside and put out the flames that had ignited on the stove and the microwave oven.

The other resident opened a window in the meantime.

“There was a man trying to pry open the extinguisher case, not seeing the metal hammer used to break the glass. I broke the glass and went inside and saw nothing but black smoke,” Carley said. “I saw a glow and knew that’s where the fire was. I kept spraying it, saw sparks from the microwave and sprayed that.”

Carley said he suffers from COPD and emphysema. When he yelled for the other man to get out, he breathed in smoke and left, coughing and hacking, as first-responders finally arrived on the scene.

By then, the fire and much of the smoke was out.

“I could hear the deputy say they needed an ambulance. I got two breathing treatments and they wanted to take me to the hospital, but I had Bible study to go to,” Carley said.

The tenant reportedly was making fried chicken and left the food unattended.

Carley said first-responders told him that he may have saved a few lives as Vista Palms is a wooden structure. The fire left scorch marks on the wall and had started toward the ceiling before it was put out.

Carley also said he was surprised by the inaction of many of those who stood nearby, taking pictures of the incident instead of rushing into help.

“The gall of these people to take videos of this building burning and do nothing. I did what I had to do,” he said.

This is not the first time Carley has been a hero. Nearly 20 years ago, he saved the life of an infant who was choking on a piece of foam rubber at a Walmart where he worked.