KD4LRC: 8 Year old Boy Saves Family

HOBOKEN, Ga. -- All Andrew Kirkland wants for his 9th birthday this Friday is clothes to wear and a few toys. He has nothing after a fire destroyed his family's home this weekend. Andrew is the reason they all survived.

"I woke up because of the smell of smoke," Andrew told Action News.

The 8-year-old was asleep in his bedroom when the fire broke out. Andrew woke up to his dresser on fire. His two cousins were also in the room, sleeping.

"It just got bigger and bigger and bigger," said Andrew.

He tried to fan out the flames using the lid of a clothes hamper but the flames continued to get bigger. Andrew says he ran through the house yelling "help" and woke up his mom and cousins. Everyone made it out safely. While Andrew's family lost all their clothes, furniture and books in the fire, a few things survived the flames, including a Bible.

"It survived because it was Jesus'," said Andrew.

The fire didn't touch a few pictures of his sister and some of her baby clothes. She died at the age of 3 so the pictures and clothes mean a lot to the Kirkland family.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The Kirkland family is staying with relatives near the burned-down home.

Andrew's family calls him a hero. He says he just wanted to make sure his family got out of the fire safely. Now Andrew is focused on his 9th birthday this Friday.

This is the Grandson of Randy Kirkland (KD4LRC), one of our Former Lake Wales Ham Operators who now lives in Georgia and I felt the need to post this and wish Blessings on and for his Family.

Rich, (KJ4INW)