NEWSOMS
On the evening of April 7, 11-year-old Robert Vick thought that he could smell smoke inside his home. Alone with his 87-year-old grandmother, 9-year-old sister and 20-month-old baby cousin, Vick began investigating the situation. Quickly, he noticed a fire billowing near the front door where he had just switched on a light so that his parents, Timmy and Rhonda, could see their surroundings when they returned home for the night.

Vick quickly alerted his grandmother, who didn’t believe him and thought that the flickering lights above were simply from a bad storm. He grabbed his sister and cousin and rushed to their neighbor’s house to call 911.

Because of Vick’s composure under pressure, the neighbors were able to extinguish the fire before it completely destroyed the family’s home on Old Chapel Road. The Newsoms and Boykins Volunteer Fire Departments arrived shortly after, as did Robert’s parents, but the damage had been kept to a minimum.

“His quick thinking saved our home and our lives,” Rhonda said. “If it weren’t for Robert, another minute and a half and there would be nothing left.”

This past Tuesday, the fifth-grader at Meherrin Elementary was presented with a Certificate of Commendation by Newsoms Volunteer Fire Chief Jonathan Hinson for his courage.

“Robert’s quick thinking and bravery allowed for everyone to escape uninjured, and allowed for a quick response from the Newsoms and Boykins Volunteer Fire Departments to extinguish the fire,” Hinson said. The award was presented to Vick as part of Meherrin’s PTO/SOL Preparation Night activities.

“Robbie did exactly what he was supposed to. He alerted everyone to the fire and made sure they got out of the house; then went to the neighbor’s house to call 911 rather than go back into the burning house. This young man’s actions were certainly worthy of recognition and being able to do it in front of his family and friends at Meherrin Elementary was a great opportunity to reinforce the right thing to do in the event of a fire in your home.”

Robert said that he was just doing what he was taught in Boy Scouts Troop 17.

“I just tried to find out where the fire was and get everyone out of the house,” he said. “I was pretty calm.”

As his scout leader, Rhona said she was thankful that he paid attention during her lessons, and that she couldn’t be more proud of her son.

“He didn’t show fear at all,” she said.