Teen’s bravery recognized

August 7, 2008

Cairo officials to honor youth for saving elderly woman’s life

Teresa Williams The Times Enterprise Thu Aug 07, 2008, 10:30 PM EDT

THOMASVILLE — The quick thinking and “unselfish act” of a Cairo youth recently saved an elderly resident’s life.

Dylan Dixon, 14, will be presented the Cairo Fire Department’s Life Saving Award for his recent “Act of Bravery” at Cairo City Council’s Monday meeting.

Dixon came to the aid of an elderly neighbor, Ida B. Crozier, who has dementia and some other health issues, officials said, on July 26 when her couch caught fire.

“I was walking by and saw a bunch of smoke coming out of the house,” Dixon said. “The door was open and I saw flashing lights like the fire alarm was going off. I went in and saw the couch was on fire — cigarette ash had been smoldering in the couch for a while — and she was trying to put it out. I got water and doused the fire, then opened up the windows in the house to get the smoke out. I helped the lady outside and my mom saw I was over there, saw the smoke and called the fire department.”

Another neighbor agreed to help Dixon get the couch out of the house, located at 903 Quail Run, he said, and the fire department put out the blaze.

“Due to his unselfish act of bravery, his neighbor’s life and home was spared from the ensuing fire,” Chief Don Towne said. “For this act, the City of Cairo and the Cairo Fire Department will honor him with a special ceremony prior to the council meeting. We’re all very proud of him.”

Mom Lisa Williams said she is proud of her son’s courageous act.

“He has always helped anyone in need; he’s always been that type of person, had that type of character,” she said. “He is a wonderful young man and I am very proud of him.”

Dixon, a freshman at Cairo High School, said all the attention he’s received for his good deed is “a little surprising.”

“It was the Christianly thing to do,” he said.