When a fire started at the Caraballo home on Hawthorne Drive overnight last Christmas, the family was all fast asleep. The first to wake was 10-year-old Cooper. He immediately tried to wake his younger brother, Decker, 7. When he couldn’t, he ran downstairs and woke his parents, Chris and Haley.

As a result, the entire family were all able to get out safely, and make it to the family’s meeting place outside.

Cooper’s calm and quick thinking saved the family – action for which he was recognized this week. Officials from Midway Fire-Rescue visited the Caraballos at their home on July 23 to make Cooper an honorary firefighter with the department, and present him with a service helmet and shield, along with a framed department patch and coin. Decker also got a framed patch and coin.

Midway also provided the family with new 10-year wired smoke detectors in the home, which the family was only recently able to move back into. While the fire itself was contained to Cooper’s room, there was heavy heat and smoke damage throughout the second floor. Only some of the smoke detectors in the home during the time of the fire were wired, thus the downstairs alarms may not have gone off when the smoke detector in Cooper’s room sounded.

“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.”

In addition to presenting the awards, Collins and other staff spent time talking with the boys about smoke detectors, home escape plans, cooking safety and fire drills. Cooper and Decker even assisted in adding two additional smoke alarms to the laundry room and garage. Midway also presented the family with a fire blanket for the kitchen. 

Staff at Midway is always happy to talk with families, school groups or community groups about fire safety.