Fire Victim's Family Says 'Thank You' To Tulsa Firefighters

A newly recruited firefighter is one of the men being credited with saving a Tulsa man's life. Tulsa firefighters pulled the man from his burning apartment New Years Day. <br/><br/>Wednesday evening,

Wednesday, January 10th 2007, 3:51 pm

By: News On 6

A newly recruited firefighter is one of the men being credited with saving a Tulsa man's life. Tulsa firefighters pulled the man from his burning apartment New Years Day.

Wednesday evening, that man's stepfather took time away from the hospital to thank the firefighters for their efforts. The News on 6â€™s Jennifer Loren was there.

Andrew Little was badly burned in that fire, but his step-father says the firefighters quick response is what kept him alive. â€œThanks a lot. Thanks a lot.â€ After David Smith found out his step-son, Andrew Little, was badly burned in a fire; he made it a priority to meet the men who saved him from certain death. "I just wanted to come and find the guys that actually did this. I talked to the guys that found Andrew, that picked up Andrew, that carried him out."

The morning of January 1st, firefighters from Tulsa's fire station #20 were called to a fire at the Fall's Apartments. When they got here they heard someone was still inside. Tulsa firefighter Justin Breedlove: "That knocks it up another level. When there's someone involved we know we need to get to them as fast as we can and step it up."

When firefighters found out Andy was inside they ran into the burning apartment and carried him out and down the stairs where paramedics were waiting. Smith says having firefighter paramedics already on scene is what kept his stepson alive. "What they were able to do immediately upon bringing him out, versus waiting for an ambulance to come. They truly have brought us to today, where Andy's at."

Andy is still in critical condition and on life support, but his family is thankful to these firefighters for every day he's alive. "I mean it was hard with these guys to not break down."

But the firefighters say they're no heroes. It's all part of the job. Tulsa firefighter Allen Taylor: "You don't even really think about it. You just do what you're trained to do and get it done." But they admit this moment brings them some much appreciated gratification. Justin Breedlove: "Itâ€™s great to know that we helped somebody out that needed our help."

Andrew Little graduated from Jenks in 2000 and is a student at OSU-Tulsa. His family has set up a recovery fund in his name at all Tulsa area F&M Banks.