Jailan McCloud, Icquorious Jones, Taquan Lemon, Chris Lemon and Branden Lemon stand with their families during Monday's commission meeting where they were honored for their heroic efforts.
Jailan McCloud, Icquorious Jones, Taquan Lemon, Chris Lemon and Branden Lemon were walking home from a party late Aug. 26 when they realized a home at 1609 Peach Ave. was on fire.
The boys, worried the family inside had not realized the fire, called 911 and banged on the windows of the home to get the attention of the people inside. The boys eventually had to break windows on the home to help the family escape.
Fire Chief Jerry Ransom said had it not been for the efforts of the boys, the family would have perished. When firefighters arrived to the home they were forced to use additional hoses to put the fire out. Officers also evacuated neighboring homes because of the intensity of the fire.
To thank the young men Sanford firefighters hosted a dinner at the station last Thursday and Ransom asked that the commission recognize the boys’ efforts during a commission meeting.
Monday night Mayor Jeff Triplett read a proclamation in the boys’ honor and declared Sept. 10, 2012 Jailan McCloud, Icquorious Jones, Taquan Lemon, Chris Lemon and Branden Lemon Day in the City of Sanford.
Each of the boys are students at Seminole High School and live in the Goldsboro neighborhood.