Thanks to a drill learned in school, 9-year-old Asaya Chavez of Santa Fe saved the lives of his two small cousins from a house fire, a news report said.
“I said, ‘I smell smoke. Let's get out,’” Chavez told KRQE.
The boy's grandmother, Anna Jaramillo, was babysitting that evening. Chavez, in his room playing a game, smelled smoke, he told KRQE. He rushed to his grandmother, who is on oxygen, and told her they had to get out.
Chavez was called a hero by his grandmother and the local news station after going back into the house twice to save his cousins, who are two years old and seven months old. He said he is "happy that they are okay because they never got to see the world, you know?”
"The true hero was a boy who pulled his cousins, ages two and seven months old, out of the house prior to SFFD arrival! Well done!!" said a Santa Fe Fire Department Facebook post.
Jaramillo told KRQE that there was no time to get belongings, which were all destroyed in the fire, including a car the family had just given to her and a pet turtle. She said she is on oxygen and the tanks were “blowing up real bad.” The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The family had moved into the home in March. Family members who were living in the house are all staying with relatives temporarily. Jaramillo has set up a Spotfund account for people to donate to so they can get back on their feet. She listed a $50,000 goal. As of May 31, $10,990 had been raised from 134 donors.
"What a brave young man…..wishing this family the best and hope the support you receive is used wisely to get to a comfortable place to call home," one donor posted. Donations to help the family can be made at this Spotfund account.