Teen Hero Saves Couple After House Fire Believed to Be Started by Fireworks

On Tuesday, a 19-year-old ran into a burning home and saved two people, according to a report from local TV station KTLA. Caleb Delasantos was driving home from Fourth of July celebrations in Upland, California, when he noticed flames in the garage of a stranger’s home.

“The garage and the whole tree and everything were engulfed in flames,” Delasantos told the outlet. “There were just flames shooting out… I ran to the door trying to get to the main house to get everyone out.”

Delasantos said he felt adrenaline in the moment and remained calm. He called for people in the house to respond to him and started hosing down the flames. The couple, Marianne and Kenny Hiebsch, followed him outside.

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire. However, Marianne thinks a firework presumably caused it. She and Kenny had been in bed when the fire broke out.

“I lost all of my childhood things,” she said. “My husband lost all of his childhood things.”

Delasantos' mom started a GoFundMe page to help the Hiebsches replace the items they lost in the fire. The Hiebsches said they were grateful that Delasantos showed up and helped. The next day, Delasantos’ mom brought him back to the house to check on the Hiebsches and officially meet them.

“The way he assessed the situation, he was like a hero,” Kenny said. “It was very heroic what he did, to come and help us, people he doesn’t know.”