VIDEO: The Douglas County Fire Department honored an 11-year-old boy Thursday for his part in helping four of his family members escape from a devastating fire earlier this month.
"If he wasn't 11 years old, I would hire him on the spot," said Douglas Co. Fire Chief Roderick Jolivette.
Chief Jolivette presented Calil Gillis with a citizen award for his quick thinking.
"It started getting hotter and hotter in my room and I woke up to see what was going on and turn the AC on," Gillis recalled. "So, when I woke up, [there] was white smoke coming out the vents."
Gillis said he went into the hallway and found more smoke.
"So, I looked out my window--it's a whole raging fire coming up my window," said Gillis.
He quickly ran downstairs to alert his sister, brother and two cousins. They were all able to make it out of the house safely.