A Fort Pierce grandfather is being hailed as a hero after he rescued three young children from a burning car.It happened on Feb. 16 in the parking lot of Lawnwood Elementary School.Carl Noble said he has not been able to stop thinking about that day.“Every day I go there, I have flashbacks of the same scene,” he said.In the headlines: FHP searching for sedan that 24-year-old fell out of car before being hitNoble was in the parking lot around 2:15 p.m., waiting to pick up his granddaughter from school.He looked to his left and saw smoke coming from a parked car.He got out of his car and started to walk toward the other car.That’s when he saw more smoke and then flames.“Something in my mind told me someone’s in there, run,” Noble said. “And I just took off running.Never miss anything: Sign up for personalized newsletters and alerts from WPBF 25 News“I got to the vehicle, couldn’t see inside because of the smoke and tinted windows,” he said. “So, I pulled on the back door, and it was locked. I said, ‘Is anyone in here?’ One of the little kids put their hand on the window.”Noble tried another door and that one opened, showing a young child inside.“I picked him up and set him behind me,” Noble said. “I said, ‘Is there anyone else in here?’ By the time I said that, I looked back. The second little boy was coming out.”Noble carried that child to safety and then returned to find a third child — a little girl — inside.“She’s struggling, trying to get between the seats,” Noble said. “So, I reached inside to grab the little girl to pull her out. As soon as I got her to the seat and grabbed her by the arms to pick her up, the car exploded twice. Boom! Boom!“Flames went over my head, up between the little girl,” he said.Noble said the explosion knocked him over.Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | InstagramHe wound up in the hospital with a large gash above his eye and an injured right shoulder and arm from where he landed.But the children were unharmed.Friday afternoon, Noble saw those children for the first time since he saved them.“Oh man, it just brought tears to my eyes,” Noble said. “I just hugged them and all.“Little lives. They can live a lot longer now. And have much more fun.”The St. Lucie Fire District has planned a ceremony for Wednesday where they will honor Noble for his heroic actions.The children and their parents are expected to be there.Stay informed: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
A Fort Pierce grandfather is being hailed as a hero after he rescued three young children from a burning car.
It happened on Feb. 16 in the parking lot of Lawnwood Elementary School.
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Carl Noble said he has not been able to stop thinking about that day.
“Every day I go there, I have flashbacks of the same scene,” he said.
In the headlines: FHP searching for sedan that 24-year-old fell out of car before being hit
Noble was in the parking lot around 2:15 p.m., waiting to pick up his granddaughter from school.
He looked to his left and saw smoke coming from a parked car.
He got out of his car and started to walk toward the other car.
That’s when he saw more smoke and then flames.
“Something in my mind told me someone’s in there, run,” Noble said. “And I just took off running.
Never miss anything: Sign up for personalized newsletters and alerts from WPBF 25 News
“I got to the vehicle, couldn’t see inside because of the smoke and tinted windows,” he said. “So, I pulled on the back door, and it was locked. I said, ‘Is anyone in here?’ One of the little kids put their hand on the window.”
Noble tried another door and that one opened, showing a young child inside.
“I picked him up and set him behind me,” Noble said. “I said, ‘Is there anyone else in here?’ By the time I said that, I looked back. The second little boy was coming out.”
Noble carried that child to safety and then returned to find a third child — a little girl — inside.
“She’s struggling, trying to get between the seats,” Noble said. “So, I reached inside to grab the little girl to pull her out. As soon as I got her to the seat and grabbed her by the arms to pick her up, the car exploded twice. Boom! Boom!
“Flames went over my head, up between the little girl,” he said.
Noble said the explosion knocked him over.
Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
He wound up in the hospital with a large gash above his eye and an injured right shoulder and arm from where he landed.
But the children were unharmed.
Friday afternoon, Noble saw those children for the first time since he saved them.
“Oh man, it just brought tears to my eyes,” Noble said. “I just hugged them and all.
“Little lives. They can live a lot longer now. And have much more fun.”
The St. Lucie Fire District has planned a ceremony for Wednesday where they will honor Noble for his heroic actions.
The children and their parents are expected to be there.
Stay informed: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News