At five years old, the only choices Noah Woods of Bartow County, Georgia, needed to make in life involved snacks, lunchbox designs, and who to play with at recess. Deciding what flavor juice box he wanted was about the hardest dilemma he encountered.
That changed early one Sunday morning when the boy was roused from sleep by an odd smell. After understanding his situation, his mind was moving 1,000 miles per hour to come up with a plan that might save his entire family’s life.
Before their son went to bed in February 2020, Noah Wood’s parents each gave him a kiss on the forehead and wished him sweet dreams. They’d see him in the morning, they said, never thinking there could be an alternative.
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But early the next morning, Noah woke up suddenly in his room, which he shared with Lilly, his 2-year-old sister. A noise hadn’t startled him, but rather an intense odor that was only growing stronger.
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When he began to see the smoke billowing in his room and saw the flames, he knew he needed to act quickly. Even at just 5-years-old, he knew the fire was moving fast. He had to get to safety. But then, he thought of something.
Woods Family
Being a selfless boy, the first thing he did was pick up his baby sister and his dog. His number one concern was protecting them from the danger. Then, he made his way to their bedroom door… and felt intense heat.
Noah realized the flames were blocking the door! The kids couldn’t get to safety that way. Stuck, he started racking his brain for another exit plan as the family home was becoming fully engulfed.
Quickly, he rushed to the far wall, gathered all his strength, and opened the window. He shimmied his sister, his dog, and himself through the small opening. Now safe, he didn’t even take a moment to collect himself. There was still work to do.
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Because other people in the house and on the family’s property had no idea about the fire! A panicked Noah immediately rushed next door and alerted his uncle about the fire. Luckily, the uncle sprung into action.
Propelled by Noah’s quick thinking, the uncle went on to alert all other members of the family, calling out so they would wake up and avoid the flames. Without Noah, they never would’ve been given a chance.
Woods Family
And as the flames continued to lick the sky, Noah’s mother and father finally broke free from the house to find the young boy holding his sister and his dog in his arms. His father could hardly believe what he was seeing.
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When firefighters arrived, they were almost speechless. Not only because of the damage on the home but also because of the astounding bravery of a 5-year-old: He showed a skill set on par with even the most veteran firefighters. So, the fire crew started thinking.
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The Bartow County Fire Department knew they needed to do something special to honor Noah. Later on that week, they invited Noah and his family to the firehouse for a very special ceremony.
The entire fire department and Bartow County Commissioner Steve Taylor showed up to honor Noah Woods and his heroic actions. They presented him with a certificate of bravery and even made him an honorary firefighter.
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Of course, they didn’t have a uniform in his size, so a pair of fireman pajamas acted as a stand-in. With all his family around him, Noah listened as the fire chief said a few words about how incredible his act of bravery really was.
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“This boy here is amazing, ” he said. “A lot of adults wouldn’t have acted that calmly and quickly.” Beaming with pride, firefighters also gave Noah a helmet and a badge for his service. At the ceremony, Noah’s father, Allen Wood, couldn’t help but get choked up.
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“He’s always been an outgoing kid,” he said about Noah. “I am just proud to be his Dad.” Unbelievably, there were a couple more surprises for Noah before he left the firehouse that day.
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“I proclaim today, Valentines Day, Feb 14, 2020, as Noah Woods Day in Bartow County,” Commissioner Taylor revealed at the ceremony. In Bartow County, they are going to be celebrating a lot more than just love on February 14th.
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Of course, no trip to the firehouse is complete without a ride in the fire truck. Once Noah’s ceremony was over, he rode out stylishly in the front seat of a Bartow County fire truck. Chances are he could be driving it one day.
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Noah Woods saved his entire family from harm before he even entered the first grade. He knew kids could make a difference.
