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Wednesday, July 26, 2023
www.comoxvalleyrecord.com
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2023 | VOLUME 39 | NO. 30
Local hero awarded with Citizen Service Award but faces an uncertain future Olivier Laurin Record staff
“It was a quiet evening and there were not many customers,” said Comox Esso station co-owner Junyi Liu. “I was the only one there when it happened.” It was just before 7 p.m., on May 20, that a woman crashed into a gas pump resulting in an immediate blaze. “I was looking outside through the window when the vehicle hit the pump,” says Liu. “At that moment, I just pressed all the emergency buttons, grabbed the extinguisher, and ran outside.” Once Liu witnessed the extent of the uncontainable blaze, he went straight to the car. “I opened the driver’s door and took (the woman) out of her vehicle and moved her somewhere safe,” said Liu. Though he briefly experienced fear, Liu’s instinct automatically kicked in. “Everything I did was just automatic, I didn’t think about anything. It went so fast.” A few minutes later, the Comox Fire Rescue arrived on the scene. “It was a very spectacular fire,” said Fire Chief Gord Schreiner. “I didn’t realize the efforts that he had done until after we had seen some videos of him pulling out the woman. It was quite remarkable.” Battling the blaze for more than three hours, and witnessing the firsthand damage caused by the flames, Schreiner noted that without Liu’s intervention, the event could have taken a darker turn. “It was a very quick action on his part and more than likely save the life of the person in the car,” says Schreiner. “He made a big difference and
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■ NEWS Curious century-old guitar Following a story about a the purchase and refurbishing of an antique thrift-store guitar, the owner and history of the instrument has been uncovered. 3
10th contract increase for RCMP The City of Courtenay plans to pay more for RCMP next year, capping off an 80 per cent increase since 2010. 4 Comox Mayor Nicole Minions (left) and Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner (right) awarded Junyi Liu the Citizen Service Award on July 12, after the man saved a woman from the fire at the Comox Esso gas station on the night of May 20. (Photo from Town of Comox’s Twitter) risked his own well-being in doing so.”
partment of Comox. “It’s very rare (that we give this award),” says Citizen Service Award Schreiner. “In this particular case, he saved a On July 12, Comox Mayor Nicole Minions and life, which is something that the fire department Schreiner awarded Liu with the Citizen Service couldn’t do because we could not be there that Award. fast.” Liu humbly received the award. Granted only to those who perform outstanding civic acts, Liu was considered deserving of Continued on Page A3 this distinction by the town council and fire de-
AUGUST 12 HOT AUGUST NIGHTS
Help to solve Canada Day fraud Police are asking for assistance from the public to identify three suspects as more than $4,500 of welding equipment was taken from Canadian Tire on Canada Day. 7
The Comox Valley Record recognizes and respectfully acknowledges that it is produced on the traditional unceded lands of the K’ómoks First Nation.
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