Joaquin Guillen spotted the fire while riding his bike outside
Credit: KOAA 5/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- Eight-year-old Joaquin Guillen alerted neighbors to a fire at his Colorado apartment complex, helping families evacuate safely
- Joaquin and his father knocked on doors to warn others after calling 911, earning praise for their quick actions
- No injuries were reported, and the Colorado Springs Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire
A young boy saved his apartment neighbors from a fire, earning him a well-deserved title as a hero.
Joaquin Guillen helped alert others living at the Union Heights Apartment complex in Colorado after a fire broke out on Saturday, March 14.
The eight-year-old was riding his bike outside when he noticed smoke and then saw the growing flames.
“The fire was going up to the third floor… and it looked like it was getting bigger and bigger,” Joaquin told local news outlet KOAA, adding that he then ran to tell his parents.
“I told my dad there’s a fire. I’m not joking this time … because I joke a lot,” he explained. However, because of this, Joaquin's dad didn't fully believe it initially.
“I didn’t really think anything of it… until I stepped outside, heard the crackling, and saw it,” Cody Guillen, the boy's father, said.
He quickly called 911, and the father-son duo went knocking door-to-door to alert other families about the fire.
“They tell us kids can be heroes. When you see a fire, you tell your parents," Joaquin said. "Evacuate."
No injuries were reported from the fire. The Colorado Springs Fire Department is still investigating what caused the blaze, according to the outlet.
Credit: GoFundMe
Joaquin's neighbors, including Kimberly Reid, commended the child for being so "brave" during the fire.
“There were a lot of kids, a lot of pets," Reid said. "He’s a real hero." She also thanked him and pointed out that people "need more kids like you."
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Cody feels equally "very proud" of his son's heroic actions. "This is a moment to remember. I love you," he told Joaquin.
“I’m happy that I did it," Joaquin said. "I saved my family’s life.”
A GoFundMe launched by Joaquin's grandmother revealed that the Guillens "lost their home and nearly everything" in it.
"They escaped with only the clothes on their backs and are now facing the painful reality of starting over from nothing with no home, no belongings, and no essentials," reads the fundraiser.
"We humbly ask for prayers and any financial support you can give to help them secure shelter, food, clothing, and basic necessities as they rebuild their lives."
Read the full article here
