TORONTO -- HMCS Toronto crew members are being hailed as heroes after rescuing people from a fire while on shore leave in Turkey.
"Six members of the crew provided first response to a fire and assisted in the evacuation of the building in Antalya, saving lives," the Department of National Defence said in a statement.
The crew were in a restaurant when a fire broke out. Trained in fire fighting and first responding, they went to work.
A DND spokesman said two of the ship's officers, Lt. Samuel Gaudreault and Lt. Daniel Willis, noticed smoke coming from the second floor and, hearing cries for help, grabbed fire extinguishers and rushed to help.
She said Leading Seaman Jean-Francois Martineau, Able Seaman Chris Richards, Master Cpl. Shirley Jardine and Cpl. Jo Boivin joined Gaudreault and Willis to evacuate residents.
HMCS Toronto members fight fire while on shore leave in Turkey