8-year-old boy rescues 6 relatives from fire, dies trying to save 7th

http://fox43.com/2014/01/22/8-year-...m-fire-dies-trying-to-save-7th/#axzz2rGM2L4N5



(CNN) — An 8-year-old boy was killed in a mobile-home fire in upstate New York early Monday while attempting to rescue a disabled relative inside, according to authorities. Still, he managed to save six others, including two younger children.

Tyler J. Doohan, of East Rochester, was staying at the home of relatives in the nearby town of Penfield on Sunday night when he noticed a fire in the single-wide trailer, said Penfield Fire Chief Chris Ebmeyer.

As firefighters and sheriff’s deputies responded to an emergency call around 4:45 a.m., Tyler was able to wake six other people in the small trailer, including two more children, ages 4 and 6, the fire chief said.

Then Tyler went back into the blaze to help his grandfather, who was disabled and would have been unable to get out of the home on his own, Ebmeyer said.

“By that time, the fire had traveled to the back of the trailer,” said Ebmeyer. “Unfortunately they both succumbed to heat and smoke.”

Their bodies were found together in a back bedroom.

Tyler’s uncle was also killed in the fire, his body found in a front room, Ebmeyer said.

Earlier, fire officials had released a mistaken version of the incident, where the grandfather and uncle’s locations were switched, due to incorrect information provided by a family member.

“It makes me really proud, it really does, but I just want him back,” Tyler’s mother, Crystal Vrooman, told CNN affiliate WHAM.

The boy broke away from his aunt outside the burning trailer and ran back inside to try to save his grandfather, she said.

“All I could think about is how he couldn’t breathe,” she told WHAM.

The pair were found together on a bed in the back room. It appeared that the boy was trying to lift his grandfather from the bed when he was overcome by the smoke and fire, the fire chief said.

Tyler and his grandfather were like best friends, Vrooman said.

“I’m just so grateful that he went with people that he loved,” she said. “He didn’t go alone.”

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation but believed to be accidental.

The conditions of the six survivors were not immediately available.

Ebmeyer said the trailer had no working smoke detector. He lamented that with so many people in one small mobile home, one alarm could have easily woken everyone in time to escape.

There was at least one space heater inside the trailer, the fire chief said.

Several pets — including dogs, cats, a rabbit and hamsters — also died in the fire, Ebmeyer said.

The Penfield Fire Company — a volunteer unit — intends to create a public service initiative to spread awareness and get smoke detectors out to the public, he said.

Meanwhile, Richard Stutzman Jr., interim superintendent of the East Rochester School District, where Tyler attended fourth grade, issued a statement:

“In bravely and selflessly giving his own life, he was able to save the lives of six others — and he truly is a hero.”

 

RIP Tyler.

 

:smt089 So tragic. What a beautiful little boy. RIP sweet one

 

may he rest in peace, that was really brave of him.

 

In rare circumstances I would call this young kid a hero. Thus he has earned it.

 

oh god no, I really don't even know what to say.
news items never ever get to me like that, its just the world sometimes, is hard but I suppose you just have to desensitize yourself from it, but that one actually broke my heart and I am close to tears.
god bless that wonderful little soul, and god bless his family.

 

Outstandingly brave,especially for such a young age.
May he rest in peace!

 

So very sad and what a brave, brave little man. Shows human instinct can still be a good thing at times. I hope he is never forgotten and his sacrifice is remembered for years to come. :smt089

 

Damn, this is probably the most heartbreaking thing I've ever read. That boy isn't just a hero, he's an angel. I can even believe that I managed to type this much because words absolutely fail me right now.

 

hear hear x