Two Victoria teenagers kept their cool when their home caught fire in March.
The 100-year old McClure Street house caught fire and became entirely engulfed in flames within 10 minutes. But, Sam and Finn Parker saw the flames and were able to get their three-year-old brother Jasper, their grandmother and their downstairs tenant out and unharmed.
Friday morning the duo were awarded with the Victoria Fire DepartmentB次元官网网址檚 Citizens Meritorious Award for what they did.
B次元官网网址淭he performance that these guys demonstrated on that day B次元官网网址� in my opinion it was very courageous,B次元官网网址� said Victoria Fire Chief Bruce Paul. B次元官网网址淏y definition, courage doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean the absence of fear, itB次元官网网址檚 the act of managing your fears, keeping everything in a proper perspective and doing what you know to be best, and keeping that all in a sensible order in a chaotic situation. ItB次元官网网址檚 very impressive for a couple young guys.B次元官网网址�
The fire happened March 19 when both teens were at home with their brother and grandmother.
Sam Parker, 16, had quickly gone upstairs to change, and when he came downstairs he found Jasper sitting next to flames.
B次元官网网址淭he weird thing was, you couldnB次元官网网址檛 hear anything. No glass breaking, nothing, but I came downstairs and I saw big glass on the floor, the curtains were on fire in the living room,B次元官网网址� Sam said.B次元官网网址漇o I grabbed Jasper and brought him back to the back yard, and I went back to the living room, grabbed the fire extinguisher and I yelled B次元官网网址榝ire!B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
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ThatB次元官网网址檚 when Finn, 13, realized something was wrong.
B次元官网网址淚 came downstairs and saw it, then I thought I have to get out,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 went downstairs to where the tenants are and knocked very, very loudly, and then I got Thomas, one of our tenants out.B次元官网网址�
| Sam and Finn Parker each received a Citizen's Meritorious Award from the Victoria Fire Department for making sure everyone got out when their house caught fire in March. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS |
The boys continued to try to extinguish the fire, but the fire spread too fast in the character home. They made sure everyone, including their grandmother, was out then rushed outside to wait for the fire department.
Their home was destroyed, leaving no personal belongings for either boy, except FinnB次元官网网址檚 bicycle which had been parked outside. B次元官网网址淏ut, that got stolen a couple weeks after the fire happened, which wasnB次元官网网址檛 great. It was really nice and the only thing that survived,B次元官网网址� he said.
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The boysB次元官网网址� parents were horrified when they got home, but that terror soon turned to relief.
B次元官网网址淎s a dad IB次元官网网址檓 very very proud of how my boys handled the situation, everyone got out safe and sound,B次元官网网址� said their father, Mike McComb, adding that the whole experience has been bittersweet. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to be happy and sad at the same time, but todayB次元官网网址檚 a proud day, itB次元官网网址檚 all about the boys.B次元官网网址�
When asked what it felt like to get the award, the brothers had distinctly different reactions.
B次元官网网址淚 feel really happy about it, I feel a little nervous, too,B次元官网网址� said Sam. B次元官网网址淚t just feels really good to be honoured like this.B次元官网网址�
Finn was more matter-of-fact about it.
B次元官网网址淚 feel like itB次元官网网址檚 something anyone would have done in the same situation,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏eing awarded seems odd to me; it seems natural to help when thereB次元官网网址檚 a crisis at the time.B次元官网网址�
