Firefighter’s Wife Rescues Driver from Burning Car in North Phoenix; Heroic Action Caught on Camera

PHOENIX, AZ — For more than two decades, Julie Read has watched her husband head toward danger as a Valley firefighter. Last month, in the middle of a busy North Phoenix intersection, it was her turn to step into the role of the rescuer.

In an incident caught on camera and widely shared this week, Read is seen pulling a driver from a mangled SUV moments before the vehicle was consumed by fire. The accident occurred in April 2026 when a car slammed into the back of an SUV sitting at a stoplight, sending the larger vehicle careening into the intersection.

A Split-Second Decision

As the SUV came to a halt, smoke began billowing from the engine compartment and the airbags deployed, leaving the driver trapped and disoriented. Read, who was sitting in the car next to the victim when the impact occurred, did not hesitate.

"I'm good in a crisis," Read said. "So I just stepped in and just did exactly what my husband had told me to do."

While other bystanders watched, Read jumped from her vehicle and reached the smoking SUV. She was able to help the driver out of the wreckage and move him to safety. Seconds later, the vehicle’s engine compartment burst into a ball of fire.

The "Fire Wife" Connection

Read credits her ability to handle the high-pressure situation to her marriage. Being a "fire wife" for over 20 years meant that emergency protocols and safety drills were a regular part of her household conversations.

"Being able to step in and being able to handle anything that comes your way, I think is a key thing for fire wives and probably police wives too," Read explained.

A Full Circle Moment

After the driver was safe, Read stayed on the scene and recorded video of the arriving fire crews as they worked to extinguish the blaze. She described the experience as "surreal," watching other firefighters—whom she calls "someone else's hero at home"—perform the same seamless work she has admired in her husband for years.

The Phoenix Fire Department arrived shortly after the rescue to take over the scene. Thanks to Read’s quick thinking, no major injuries were reported from the fiery aftermath of the collision.

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