High Schoolers Returning From Prom Help Save Family From House Fire

A group of high school students from New York are being celebrated as heroes after they helped save a family from a house fire on Saturday (May 17). The teens, Aiden Kane, Morgan Randall, Donato Jellenich, and Tyler Sojda, were returning from their junior prom at Whitesboro High School when they noticed a garage engulfed in flames in Marcy, a town in Oneida County.

Aiden Kane, 17, quickly realized the danger and shouted, "Your house is on fire!" to alert the family inside. The group sprang into action, with Kane urging the father and his two daughters to evacuate. Cellphone video captured Kane reassuring the children, telling them, "You're OK," and guiding them to safety behind a car.

Jared A. Pearl, the chief of the Maynard Fire Department, praised the teens' quick thinking and actions. He noted that Kane's alert allowed the family to escape before the flames reached the main structure of the home. Donato Jellenich called 911, while Morgan Randall stayed with the family to help comfort the children. Tyler Sojda, who has a younger brother, said comforting the children was particularly meaningful to him.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire. Chief Pearl stated, "Thanks to Aiden’s leadership and the team’s quick response, a potential tragedy was averted." Kane, whose father works in police and EMS, mentioned that his father's work inspired him to help in emergencies.