- Three Copper Hills students saved two dogs from a West Jordan house fire.
- Carter Jacobson, Gabriel Hernandez and Cammerin Inselsberger received community recognition.
- Chief Derek Maxfield praised their bravery despite advising against entering burning buildings.
WEST JORDAN – Three heroic teenagers, who recently rushed into a burning home in West Jordan and saved two family dogs, received some big recognition Tuesday.
It was a heroes' celebration, full of gifts and the spotlight, for three Copper Hills High School students who weren't necessarily used to all the attention.
Carter Jacobson, one of the students who helped rescue dogs from a burning home, said he felt grateful for the community's response.
"I didn't think it'd get this much traction from all of these news stations," Jacobson said.
Three weeks ago, two neighbors' homes caught fire. The boys immediately ran over to help.
"Our first instinct is, 'let's go see if someone is home,' and that's what we did. We started knocking on doors, nobody answered," Gabriel Hernandez, another heroic student, said.
Spotting the Gonzales family's two dogs inside, they decided to kick in the door and save them.
"We go running in, we see the dogs in the corner, the fire is blazing through the bathroom window," said Cammerin Inselsberger, the third heroic student involved.
Both dogs are alive today because of their heroic act.
"I know I can speak for myself and my whole family that we're eternally grateful for them, because we know that they wouldn't be here without their help and their bravery," said Zera Gonzales, the owner of the dogs.
"We don't typically advise people to go into burning buildings, but these young men showed some courage and bravery and were able to affect a great rescue," said West Jordan Fire Chief Derek Maxfield.
The three boys' school is proud of their courage.
"I think when a student steps up and does something great, they should be recognized," said Rae Garrison, Copper Hills High School principal.
As are their parents.
"I'm very proud of him. I'm very proud. It's a shock to see your child grow up and be so brave," said Gabriela Aguillon, Hernandez's mother.
But to them, it was just doing the right thing.
"It was just a sense of we got to do this, so we ended up doing it," Jacobson said.
"It's being recognized for something that everyone should do," Inselsberger said.
"If I can inspire someone else to do something good, then that's what I'm going for," Hernandez said.
It may have been a lot to soak in for these boys. They said they're simply grateful everyone is OK and that the family can rebuild their lives.
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Brian Carlson
