Parker Ewing, 15, recently visited the South King Fire and Rescue firefighters who saved his life.

Parker and his great-grandpa were asleep when the family’s home burned in a fire on Oct. 30. Parker led the family’s two dogs out the back door and to safety but then he heard his great-grandpa crying for help and returned inside the house. He found his great-grandpa in bed and carried him to near the front door and set him down. Parker then went back into the home to rescue more of the many family pets. He only made it halfway down the hallway when he was overcome by smoke and heat and collapsed.

The grandfather succumbed to his injuries that night but Parker has made a complete recovery.

The fire district recently invited Parker and his family to the fire station to meet the firefighters and paramedics who were at the call that day and to present him with a few mementos from the fire department.

“On occasion firefighters get to meet the people that we help but it was especially heartwarming to meet this family and see a young man who had risked his life for another come so near to death but now fully recovered,” said Capt. Jeff Bellinghausen. “Though this story has a happy ending there is tragedy in the loss of Parker’s grandfather and the very near loss of Parker. If you are in a fire get out and stay out. Do not return for animals or belongings.”

The family’s home was destroyed in the fire and they are currently looking for a place to live. The family has set up a GoFundMe.com account to help offset their expenses at www.gofundme.com/FamilyFire7.