Becoming a firefighter has been a lifelong dream for 18-year-old Ethan Katicic from Edmonton, Canada. Recently, he had the opportunity to save lives in a real-life emergency!
The story begins when Ethan’s two friends, 17-year-olds Ryken Glew and Jackson Brown, are on their way to a nearby basketball court. While passing, they notice smoke rising from the Citadel Mews West Retirement Home. Rather than just watching, they immediately stop and drive to the building to help.
We understood that it will be difficult for the elders to get out,” Jackson said. The teens approached the staff at the entrance, and when they learned that some people were still inside, they decided to go in to rescue them. Despite the danger, they rushed to the fourth floor and knocked on doors to help residents evacuate.
“Knock on the door, yell ‘There’s a fire, everyone must leave now,’” Jackson recalled. “Then we had open the door just enough to check and move to the next room.” The smoke was dark, and the fire had spread to the ceiling, but they did not stop. Sometimes, they would open a door and find a room filled with flames, but they did not let fear stop them.
Ryken said their goal was to get people out as calmly as possible, checking every door. “We checked it all. That is all we could do,” he said. Jackson added, “I just kept thinking about the possibility of missing someone who might still be inside.”
Ethan arrived at the scene after his friends, not knowing they were already inside. Without hesitation, he joined them, rushing into the burning building to help. Once inside, many of the residents were already safe, so Ethan focused on rescuing pets that had been left behind. He also helped a woman struggling with the stairs, carrying her down to safety.
“There was an elderly woman who needed help with the stairs,” Ethan said. “I helped her down. That was a big moment for me.” Most of the time, he stayed back to let the firefighters handle the fire, but he was determined to assist as much as possible. After the experience, Ethan felt even more motivated to pursue his dream of becoming a firefighter.
All three teens have been hailed as heroes, and Richard Belley, a man whose father lived in the retirement home, is especially grateful to them. He received a call that the building was on fire, and when he arrived, the roof was already engulfed in flames. But thanks to Ryken, Jackson, and Ethan, his father was already safe.
“To me, they are like angels,” Richard said. “they are humble and kind young men. It gives me hope for society.”
Even with all the praise, the teens say they are just doing what they were raised to do. “We were taught always to help others, no matter what,” Ryken said. “It was just instinct.”
Whether they all become firefighters, these young men are true heroes in every sense of the word.
