Teen Rescues Younger Siblings from Fire
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GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A 14-year-old West Tennessean is being hailed a hero after saving his younger brother and sister from their burning home. “I just told them to get out of the house. I didn’t tell them there was a fire or anything,” Jon Austin Cunningham said. Cunningham bravely and calmly saved his two younger siblings form a fire. “I didn’t even know there was a fire. I kept playing my game,” his sister, Highland Cunningham, said. Jon Austin along with his 11-year-old sister and 8-year-old brother were out of school last Friday, when firefighters believe a space heater malfunctioned and sparked a fire. “I wouldn’t know what to do unless Jon Austin told me,” younger brother, Braeden, said. “I don’t consider myself a hero. I guess a lot of people are saying it,” Jon Austin said. Fire officials say Jon Austin knew exactly what to do. He knew to shut the door to the back of the house when it was on fire so he and his siblings could get out safe. He said he knew what to do from learning it in fire safety class at school. “I never thought I’d use it cause I never thought something like this would happen to us,” Jon Austin said. Jon Austin said he is not the only hero; his sister saved the family cat. “We just got him the day before Valentine’s so he still didn’t like us very much so I had to pick him up with a blanket so he wouldn’t scratch me,” Highland said. Highland and Braeden said they have learned a lot from Jon Austin, but he said he was just doing what he always does: being a big brother. “He’s pretty good because he protects me every day,” Braeden said about Jon Austin. The Cunninghams are staying with family. They said they will be able to move back into their home eventually.
