10-year-old named honorary firefighter after saving family from house fire

Midway Fire Rescue makes 10-year-old honorary firefighter for efforts during fire at family home.(Georgetown County)

 (WPDE) — Midway Fire Rescue made a 10-year-old an honorary firefighter after a fire started at his family home.

Last Christmas on Hawthorne Drive, a fire started at the Caraballo home when the family was asleep.

The first to wake up was ten-year-old Cooper who immediately tried to wake his younger brother, seven-year-old Decker.

When he could not wake his brother, he ran downstairs and woke his parents, Chris and Haley.

The entire family made it out safely to the family’s meeting place.

Cooper was recognized for his quick and calm thinking and was visited by Midway Fire Rescue to thank him for his efforts.

Cooper received a service helmet, shield, framed department patch and coin.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Cooper is the reason they were all able to get out safely,” said Bill Collins, Midway Fire Marshal. “It’s a straight-up miracle and proof that miracles still do happen.

His brother Decker also got a framed patch and coin.

Cooper and Decker get ready to help Fire Marshal Bill Collins install a smoke detector (Georgetown County)

The Caraballo family was recently able to move back into their home, where Midway Fire Rescue provided them with ten new wired smoke detectors.

The fire was contained in Cooper’s room, but heavy heat and smoke damage impacted the second floor.

Only some of the smoke detectors were wired, which was why the smoke detector in Cooper’s room sounded when some downstairs alarms may have not.

Officials from Midway Fire Rescue spent time talking with the Carabello family about smoke detectors, home escape plans, cooking safety and fire drills. Cooper and Decker were able to assist in adding two smoke alarms to different areas of their home. The family was also presented with a fire blanket for the kitchen.