SEAL BEACH : Lifeguards Honored for Work in Pier Fire

Lifeguards whose actions helped prevent injuries during a fire on the Seal Beach Pier have been honored by the City Council.

The council presented certificates of appreciation to A.J. Summers, Jeff Aldinger, Jeff Bousche, Russ Campbell, Damon Hannaman, Brian Lawrence, Bryan Liff, Ross Madden, Diane Rosenkranz and Craig Stenberg.

The May 21 fire flared up in the middle of the historic wood boardwalk and stranded more than 100 people at the far end of the pier.

Two of the lifeguards swam from shore to calm those trapped.

Other lifeguards patrolling on a rescue boat saw flames shooting from below the pier.

They radioed the main lifeguard station, where officials called the Fire Department.

Once the fire was extinguished, lifeguards placed a temporary wood overlay across the burned portion of the pier to allow the stranded people to leave.

City officials also praised the work of then-Chief Lifeguard Dan Dorsey, who coordinated the department’s actions.

Dorsey has since been promoted to assistant to the city manager.

“It’s a pretty good rush to be recognized by the City Council,” said lifeguard Summers. “It gave everyone a morale boost.”