A young boy in Iowa just proved that small acts can make a huge difference. After a heavy snowfall, the city asked residents to help clear fire hydrants so firefighters wouldn’t lose precious time in an emergency.
Nine-year-old Colton Holmes didn’t hesitate…he grabbed his shovel, dug out the hydrant near his home, and said he simply wanted to step up…
Less than a day later, that simple act turned out to be life-saving when firefighters used the very hydrant he cleared to battle a house fire that displaced several people and their pets.
Fire crews said that because fire can double in size every minute, not having to dig out that hydrant saved them critical time.
Wanting to honor Colton’s quick thinking and kindness, the department surprised him with a patch, a challenge coin reminding him to always lead, and the ultimate childhood dream: a ride to school in a fire truck.
Thankfully, there were no serious injuries in the fire, and the families affected are now getting support from the United Way.