Young Boy Fights Brush Fire
Young Boy Fights Brush Fire
23 February 2009
published by www.wset.com
USA — Fire investigators say they have some leads, but no arrests yet in a string of seven brush fires over the weekend. Altavista’s Fire Chief says all signs point to them being set on purpose. One of those fires was contained, thanks to a local boy. He may be young, but that didn’t stop 11-year-old Forrest Taylor from taking control, when he saw the fire Sunday afternoon. Forrest Taylor – “I was like ‘Daddy! Smoke! Wildfire!’ So I called 911.” Forrest says his Boy Scout training helped him know what to do. Taylor – “I made sure everything was okay before I went in and tried to battle the flames.” Forrest- along with his dad and brother- kept the flames under control by stomping and beating them, until fire crews arrived. And it wasn’t easy. Taylor – “Smoke was getting in my face, and I was coughing because I have asthma.” Because of the windy and dry conditions, Forrest’s efforts may have kept a bad situation from getting a lot worse. Taylor – “If I wouldn’t have called 911 the fire might have went down and caught fire to the tractor-trailers down there.” After all this, it probably comes as no surprise to find what Forrest wants to be when he grows up. Taylor – “Firefighter or police officer.” Or he could be a photographer – Forrest sent us several i-Witness pictures. This 11-year-old can take pictures, call 911, and fight fires– all in days work.
