Two Florida boys who saved an infant and a toddler from a burning trailer in June were honored by Orange County Commissioners on Tuesday.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Isiah Francis and Jeremiah Grimes, ages 10 and 11, were named honorary firefighters and awarded scholarships to the Central Florida Fire Institute, which they can redeem at age 18 if they choose to pursue a career in firefighting.
"As firefighters, the men and women of Orange County Fire-Rescue understand the dangers of our profession and knowingly risk their lives on a daily basis," said Fire Chief Otto Drodz III at the ceremony. "Isiah and Jeremiah did the same thing without a second thought."
On the morning of June 16, the best friends were playing video games and browsing YouTube in a trailer at Lake John's Motel Apartments in west Orange County when they smelled smoke. Realizing it was coming from a neighboring trailer, the boys called 911 and rushed into the burning trailer because they knew four kids were trapped inside.
While the boys were able to carry the two youngest to safety, the fire killed 5-year-old Caleb Eisenberg and critically injured his 4-year-old brother, Thomas Conyers.
A Joint Homicide Investigative Team decided the fire was intentional and charged the four children’s stepfather, Luis Cruz, 19, with first-degree murder, arson and two counts of aggravated child abuse.
Jeremiah's mother, Stephanie Grimes, 26, told the Orlando Sentinel she couldn't be prouder of her son.
"They did something most adults wouldn't even think of doing," she said. "He didn't even think about it. He just did it."
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
