Video of firefighter's actions regarding a girl in a car crash goes viral

A firefighter has earned praise for what he said was part of his job.

According to America Now, a news camera captured a California firefighter, Ryan Lopez, comforting a four-year-old after an accident.

Lopez was spotted comforting a young girl even while her mother and sister were being treated for injuries they sustained in a car crash.

According to reports, a big rig crossed into oncoming traffic on a highway near San Diego. Inside one of the cars the truck hit was a mother, her two daughters, and another adult family member.

Heartland Fire & Rescue Department firefighter paramedic Lopez was comforting four-year-old, who was uninjured.

The paramedic held the girl in his arms and rocked her back and forth. A few moments later, he carried the child over to the fire engine.

He sat her down and gave her a drink of water. She was then seen resting her head on his shoulder.

Lopez played down the gesture and said he would not seek recognition for the act because he believed it was part of the job and any other first responder would have done the same thing.

Lopez, who has a two-month-old daughter, said: “She really just wanted to hang on and just feel safe.” Once he determined the girl was not injured, Lopez knew he had to immediately comfort her.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of the rig lost control while driving southbound on State Route 125 and crashed into a metal guardrail.

The truck struck two vehicles when it crossed into the northbound lanes. In one vehicle were 57-year-old Nancy Bauerlein and her daughter, 29-year-old Jennifer Thompson-Campbell, who were both killed in the crash.

The other car was carrying two girls aged four and six, their mother, and another adult. The older girl suffered a broken neck and was having trouble breathing. He was taken to a children’s hospital nearby.

The girls’ mother suffered minor injuries and was able to ride in the ambulance with her daughter.