Boy, 12, Rescues His Baby Sister From Burning House in W.Va.
A 12-year-old boy saved his 18-month-old sister from a fire in their home, running through smoke and flames and carrying her out through a second-floor window onto a porch roof, authorities said Wednesday.
“She’s my sister, and I’m supposed to take care of her,” said Michael Wedekamm, who suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation in the fire Tuesday.
The blaze started in a first-floor bedroom and spread to the rest of the two-story home where Michael lived with his mother and three sisters. All escaped with minor injuries.
“Michael went up to get the baby. The rest of them went out the back door,” Lt. Carl Sizemore, Parkersburg’s chief fire inspector, said Wednesday.
The boy had to kick out a window screen and climb onto the porch roof because the stairway was filled with smoke, authorities said.
He handed his young sister, Allison, to his 11-year-old sister on the ground and jumped to safety.
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