Branford Woman Honored for Car Fire Heroics

A Branford woman who pulled a mother and her child to safety after their car caught fire last December has been honored for her life-saving heroics by the town's firefighters.

The Branford Fire Department presented the “Citizen Merit Award” to Lexie Klarman of Branford at the Board of Fire Commissioner’s Meeting at Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main St., on Thursday evening.

'My Baby Is In the Car'

According to Branford Fire Chief Jack Ahern, on the morning of Dec. 5, Klarman was driving her own car when came upon another vehicle with flames shooting out from underneath it. 

She noticed that there was a woman still inside the vehicle and she ran over to her to tell her to get out immediately. 

Ahern said the woman then exited the car and screamed “my baby is in the car," 

"While telling the woman to stay calm Lexie quickly and efficiently removed the baby from the car seat to safety," the chief stated in a press release. 

A Community Volunteer

Ahern noted that Klarman was hesitant to accept the award and is very humbled by the attention. 

He added that the Fire Department Facebook page “blew up” when word got out about Klarman’s actions. 

High Praise

“The entire community has high praise for Klarman’s daily actions with her numerous volunteer endeavors and were frankly not surprised that she would put herself in harm’s way," Ahern stated.

At last month’s Board of Fire Commissioner’s meeting the board unanimously approved Chief Ahern's recommendation to award Klarman the Citizen Merit Award.

The board also had high praise for her quick actions and her concern for others,  Ahern added.