Lifeguard Officer Carly Christian has become the first woman to qualify as a rescue boat operator in the Newport Beach Fire Department Lifeguard Division's 103-year history.
Stu News Newport first reported the achievement in its Fair Game column. Christian is a Newport Beach native and former Junior Lifeguard who joined the department in 2015. She has held six roles over her career: tower guard, unit operator, dispatcher, deckhand, Junior Lifeguard staff member and Lifeguard Officer. The column noted that her years of experience led her back to boat operations, where she achieved her goal of qualifying as an operator.
She now operates one of three Crystaliner rescue vessels the division has used since 1977, according to the NBFD's 2023 annual report. The boats are known as Sea Watch I (built 2003), Sea Watch II (built 2007) and Sea Watch III (built 1985).
Christian's qualification comes during one of the busiest summers in recent memory for Newport Beach lifeguards. The division logged more than 5,000 rescues through Labor Day weekend, above the typical 3,000-rescue season. Marine Safety Chief Brian O'Rourke told the Orange County Register ahead of the Sept. 5–7 holiday that lifeguards had already surpassed 4,000 rescues before the weekend arrived.
"We think it is one of the most active summers we can remember in recent history, without a doubt," O'Rourke told the Register on Sept. 3.
Hurricane Marie swells then battered local beaches. Lifeguards conducted 213 rescues over the three-day weekend, according to published reports. Lifeguard Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda told the Associated Press that crews carried out 177 rescues on Sunday, Sept. 6 alone.
Newport Beach lifeguards patrol 6.2 miles of ocean coastline and 2.5 miles of bay beaches year-round, according to the department. In 2024, the division recorded 3,071 rescues and zero beach fatalities across 8,513,170 beachgoer visits, according to the department's 2024 annual report.
The fire department has not released a public statement about Christian's milestone. No recognition event has been announced.
