Acts of kindness brighten up everyone’s day. Sometimes, a simple smile from a stranger walking down the street can go a long way; it’s a small gesture that someone shows you, insinuating that they’re wishing you well. Other times you hear stories in the news where locals become heroes in the community and take initiatives to go above and beyond for someone in need—this example is a brave act of kindness, and one such story is shared here.
Teacher Joyce Suslovic, commonly known as Mrs. S., was driving three of her students home one night after attending a Carrier Dome lecture Sunday night by Trevor Noah; the event took place as a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.
The teacher took three students from her class and was responsible for dropping them home thereafter. Here’s a little bit more on the local heroes: Irakoze Boris, 19, of Burundi; Mohamed Al Hariri, 21, of Syria; and Celestin Waso, 18, of Congo, are all refugee students looking for a better life in the United States. Irakoze and Mohamed attend Onondaga Community College and Celestin goes to Corcoran High School; he’s a junior.
These four were traveling west on Park Street around 9:30 pm when they saw a man trying to hail someone off the road. He looked distressed and in desperate need of help. Mrs. S. pulls the car to the side and they ask what’s going on. The man points behind him and says that the house is on fire, smoke was rising up everywhere.
Mrs. S. was just dialing 911 when all three of her students jumped out of the car and rushed towards the burning home. The boys didn’t give their actions a second thought and ran right into the house that was on fire.
Speaking to syracuse.com, the teacher explained that “the doors [of the van] flew open, and these guys jumped and ran.”
Upon entering the home, the boys saw four family members waiting to be rescued; they looked scared and weren’t moving at all. Describing the scene inside, one of the boys said there was a grandmother, two young girls, and their mother all trapped inside. They remember seeing the smoke coming from the kitchen.
Immediately, the boys told the women that they have to leave, Irakoze said. They got the grandmother out and across the street first; when they turned around, the blaze was stronger than ever. They picked up a jacket from inside to keep the girls warm in the frigid temperatures as well. They even managed to save the family pet. True gentlemen.
The firefighters showed up after the family of four was already rescued.
Their teacher had all good things to say about the young men: “These three young men, they didn’t ask questions. They didn’t need to know who was inside. I think the last image I have is [Celestin] carrying the grandmother over the ice. It was beautiful.”
Talking to syracuse.com after the incident, Celestin explained that all three of the boys are the eldest child in their respective families, so it’s second nature for them to jump into action when it comes to saving their loved ones. They didn’t take it as an act of heroism, they were just trying to help someone in need.
Mentioning his time in the United States so far, the 18-year-old said: “I just remember those memories, growing up with a single parent with five kids. That was kind of tough. Just living, not knowing what you’re going to do in five years. It’s just a blessing, I have so much appreciation being here in America, knowing that I’m going to be a different person in five years.”
What a true act of courage on behalf of these men.
Click on the video below to watch the men recount the night they saved this family from a deadly fire.
