People all across the world, including Petersburg, Virginia, are calling 12-year-old Romir Parker a tremendous hero. Romir, a seventh grader who had never had any formal training and didn’t have time to think, acted on instinct and bravery when his family’s house caught fire this summer. He was brave, so his grandma and two younger siblings survived.
The fire started on a regular afternoon in early June. Romir was probably in his room, playing on his phone or doing something else that kids his age do when school is out and the weather is great. Then he heard it: a strange noise coming from below. He wasn’t scared at first. But the noise didn’t sound right. He wanted to know more, so he left his room. At that point, he could see the smoke. It was dark, heavy, and hard to breathe. Quickly crowding the hallway and rushing down the stairs.
At that point, Romir didn’t think twice. Many grownups would have gone insane. A lot of kids would have stayed put. Romir’s first concern, though, was of his family. He could hear his grandma downstairs and his younger siblings somewhere in the house. He didn’t open the door. He started to call out their names and hunt for them through the smoke, which was getting thicker. It was getting harder and harder to breathe.
He told his siblings and sisters to stay low and move fast, which they did. But when he saw that his grandmother wasn’t there, he turned around and went back to the smoke without even thinking about it. Romir spotted her in the dark, covering her face and coughing. She was afraid, confused, and trying to find a way out. He took her hand and guided her out of the burning house, step by step, to safety.
The Petersburg Fire Department arrived a few minutes later and efficiently put out the fire. Firefighters who arrived there later reported that the fire was spreading swiftly and that if Romir hadn’t moved when he did, the damage may have been quite bad. Firefighters believe that a house fire can go from being easy to put out to deadly in three to four minutes on average. This is especially true for older structures, where flames may go through walls and ceilings faster than people think they can. Romir’s prompt move made a big difference.
As soon as the fire was out and everyone was safe, folks heard right away of Romir’s bravery. The fire chief, city leaders, local news stations, and even national news organizations all got the word. The fire chief of Petersburg, Wayne Hoover, visited the family and made sure to tell everyone how great Romir was.
Chief Hoover said, “We might not have been able to help even if we had the fastest response time.” Romir did something that most people would be too scared to do. He stayed calm. He did things on purpose. He put the safety of others before his own.
At a ceremony at City Hall, Romir was given an official proclamation recognizing his bravery. He was also declared an honorary firefighter, which is a rare and prestigious recognition, in front of his family, city authorities, firefighters, and proud community members. He got a badge, a firefighter’s helmet, and a certificate. He was also told that he may join the Petersburg Fire Department when he reached 18.
“You already have the heart of a firefighter,” Chief Hoover told him. “We’d love for you to be with us when the time comes.”
Romir, who was typically humble and modest, thanked the honor without saying anything. He said he didn’t want to be a hero. It was about getting things done. He told reporters, “I just knew my grandma was still in there.” “I wasn’t going to leave her.”
The fire inflicted a lot of damage to the family’s house, and now they are working with the Red Cross and other groups to fix it up and get back on their feet. But the people around them are really hopeful. People in the region have banded together to help by offering money, clothes, food, and even a place to stay for a short time. People in the area have praised Romir not just for being brave, but also for showing them what real love and bravery for family look like.
Teachers at his school say he has always been a good student who works hard, but they didn’t expect him to achieve such a bizarre grade. His principal said he was “the kind of student who sets an example for others, even when no one is watching.”
Romir’s narrative has made it so that all of Petersburg’s schools now teach kids how to stay safe near fire. Firefighters in the area are using what he did to show other kids how to behave in an emergency. People are hailing his calm decision-making, sense of duty, and unselfish bravery as a rare act of heroism and proof that a young person can do great things when they don’t let fear get the best of them.
As the city continues to honor what Romir achieved, he is slowly getting acclimated to being an Honorary Firefighter. But to his family and everyone else who heard about what he did that day, he will always be more than that. He is a hero not just because of what he did, but also because of who he decided to be when every second counted.