Five-Year-Old Hero Honored For Saving Brother From Fire

Correspondent

First responders to a home fire in January found all the occupants safe outside.

Five-year-old Cody Tyler McNeese suffered facial and hand injuries when he attempted to rescue his three-year-old brother Dustin Ryan McNeese from the blaze.

A structure fire was reported at approximately 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20. The home was fully involved in flames as the Tawakoni South Volunteer arrived and set up a command post that coordinated six fire departments.

A Life Star helicopter took the three-year-old to Parkland Hospital of Dallas. Their mother, Shirley Milton, said, "We first heard the loud screams of a fire from Cody that he had saw an electric space heater catch fire and saw the walls turn red with fire."

The family smashed a stuck door as Cody endured most of his burn injuries as the small hero saved the life of his brother during the rescue attempt, Milton said.

"The children were covered in soot, and my kids did not seem to be aware of any fire injuries," she said. "I guess adrenalin had set in as my children saved our family’s lives."

The day Saturday, March 1, was already crowded at 11 a.m. as the report of a major accident on State Highway 276 resounded through the fire station that required that assistance of the TSVFD.

The large crowd did mind as the TSVFD booster returned to the station and a pizza party for the friends of the young hero began.

A loud fire engine procession took the assembled children through the area with the wail of fire sirens and blazing red lights.

The event began a more somber tone as awards were presented to the young hero from Chief Kyle Harrison. The chief presented Cody with a crystal-engraved sculpture from the fire department, a certificate from the office of Texas State Rep. Dan Flynn that had been approved on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives and a special presentation, an award from a television station that utilizes internet and satellite access, Supreme Master Television.

The child was provided t-shirt along with his bother. The brothers wore the shirts as they mounted the engine of the TSVFD for the assembled photographers.

Cody asked simply, "Why am I a hero?"

The fire responders and his mother said, "Because you saved the lives of our family."

Cody is still recovering from facial and hand burns but managed to wear the new shirt and hugged his brother at the close of the ceremony.