Fire Chief Robert DiLallo invited 14-year-old Hunter to visit station 102 after learning about how he took action during a fire emergency on July 4th.

Through social media, Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District staff learned that Hunter, while on his way to a fireworks stand in Lehigh Acres, observed an unattended fire in a trash receptacle on the side of a residence. While some people would just drive by, or maybe just call 911, Hunter sprang into action.

Hunter ran to the home from the street and immediately began banging on the door of the occupied home to alert them to the emergency. He then grabbed a nearby hose and started to extinguish the fire, suffering some minor burns on his legs in the process. The residents of the home began to come outside as the fire was extinguished.

The fire was reportedly caused by fireworks left in a recycling bin. District firefighters responded to a lot of these types of fires over the holiday weekend, and even responded to a 911 call for this fire, as it was called in by a passerby who couldn’t provide an exact location. Hunter was efficient in his firefighting – by the time the engine arrived in the area to investigate, there was no fire or smoke observed in the neighborhood.

For his quick action, and willingness to risk his safety to help others, Chief DiLallo presented Hunter with the district’s first Community Youth Hero recognition. The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District believes that good kids are newsworthy, and while a lot of the acts of kindness happening in the community are probably missed, the district is happy to be able to publicly recognize Hunter as a role model for his peers.