A 62-year-old Cleveland man is being called a hero after he ran into a burning home to save an 11-month-old baby.
On Monday, May 6, John Stickovich was headed to work when he came across a house fire.
“The mother was sitting on the lawn with her one baby, and I asked her if she was all right and she said, ‘My baby is still in the house,'” said Stickovich to WJW-TV. “And I was thinking to myself … ‘I have to save the baby.'”
Stickovich made the decision to run into the smoke-filled home, determined to find the missing child. His first try was unsuccessful, but that didn't stop him.
After gaining more information from the mother on the baby's whereabouts, Stickovich courageously re-entered the burning home, this time he was able to locate the child and bring her to safety.
“I figured I better try,” said Stickovich to News 5 Cleveland. “Nobody else was here with me. There’s no child that should die in a fire, ever. It didn’t happen today, and that’s a good thing.”
“He risked his life to bring that baby out, he did an amazing job this morning,” said CFD spokesman Lt. Mike Norman to Fox 8 News.
On Friday, the City of Clevland held a special ceremony to thank John and the responders.
"Every fire is tragic, but the events on Monday could have been fatal if not for the brave actions of those involved," said the City of Cleveland in a post on social media.
The owners of the home and their babies are safe and healthy.
The fire is believed to have been accidental, caused by an electrical malfunction.