Belmont 1st grader recognized by City, Fire Dept. after saving family from burning home
BELMONT, NC (WJZY) - A Belmont first grader is being hailed a hero after saving his family from their burning home last month.
On Monday night, the Belmont City Council awarded him for his quick actions.
Belmont firefighters had recently visited Carter's school, teaching he and his classmates about fire safety when a fire broke out on the front porch of his family's home.
City Council members and the fire department said if it wasn't for his quick action things could've turned out much worse.
It was just after 5 p.m. on March 17, 2016 when 6-year-old Carter Englert realize something was amiss.
"There was like flames all over the porch," Carter said.
Carter jumped into action, first alerting his Nana who was asleep in her bedroom and then his mom who was taking a bath.
He and his mom bolted out the back door to retrieve the family's dog. But when they made it to the front yard, Nana wasn't behind them.
"Nana tried to open the door so the cats could get out, but they sadly did not," Carter explained.
Carter's Nana, Kim Cross, still struggles with that loss. But she can't help but feel gratitude for Carter's quick action and the fire safety training he had learned in school.
"He kept telling us to get down low. He knew to come get an adult," Cross said.
In the days following the fire the Belmont Fire Department gave Carter a shout out - commending him for being pro-active. Around the same time, Cross got a call from Mayor Charlie Martin telling her the City Council would also like to recognize him for his fast thinking.
And on Monday, April 4 they did just that.
"To know what to do at the age of six is an amazing thing," Mayor Martin said.
So amazing that they gave Carter a plaque - coining him a Belmont hero.
"Just an amazing thing that he was able to go ahead and learn, and be able to know and to have to presence of mind to get them out of the house," Mayor Martin said.
Carter and his family are still without a home. But, if nothing else, Cross said for Carter it's been a lesson well-learned.
"Everybody keeps telling him how good of a job he did. But I think he just thinks he did what he was supposed to do," Cross said.
Carter also received a certificate of recognition Monday night from the American Red Cross. The City will also be hosting a pizza party for him and his classmates in the coming days.