Firefighters say 13-year-old actions minimized damage, may have saved lives

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – St. Johns County Fire-Rescue is recognizing 13-year-old Eric Reilly for his quick thinking Wednesday during a fire at his Ponte Vedra Beach apartment complex.

Firefighters said Eric was home alone when he smelled smoke at his apartment on Runaway Circle. When smoke alarms in the apartment below began to go off, he ran to the maintenance office of the complex, and they called 911.

Before the first fire engine arrived, maintenance workers entered the apartment and found a pot burning on the stove. Fire-rescue said Eric's actions prevented property damage and potentially saved lives.