Young Bicyclist Saves Children In Apartment Fire

TexasStooge · #1 Postby **TexasStooge** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 12:44 pm

From KXAS NBC5 Dallas/Ft. Worth:

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Some families in Abilene are praising a 22-year-old man named Chris Leija who reportedly risked his life to save some children trapped in an apartment fire.

Leija was riding his bike around 3 a.m. Sunday when he said he saw the flames and rushed to the scene.

"I started running up through the backside and I got up on the second floor and I started knocking on people's doors. A little kid opened up the door and then I seen him, his mom there and other kids and the first thing I just did I just grabbed a kid in a car carrier, ran her out all the way out here and then I just turned back and I heard the Fire Department and police officers telling me to come back, don't go nowhere, come back, and I just had to run back and get two more kids that I had still left in there," Leija said.

Remarkably, no one was killed or seriously hurt in the fire, but 70 families were left homeless by the blaze, which was reportely one of the worst in the city's history.

Abilene fire investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.

ColdFront77 · #2 Postby **ColdFront77** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 1:10 pm

Wonderful news, 22-year-old, Chris Leijwas able to save those childrens lives. 8)

Sure is a big story, historical for Abilene, Texas area. I would think it would be mentioned on the national news. I had Fox News Channel on this early afternoon.

ColdFront77 · #3 Postby **ColdFront77** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:33 pm

I just heard this story on "MSNBC's Buchanan & Press." Chris Leijwas was in prison for burglary and broke his probation. A hero after doing something he shouldn't of done. Interesting situation and apparently the worse case scenario is going to take place, as of now.

Amanzi · #4 Postby **Amanzi** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:38 pm

Burgler or not, that young man did a good thing! Very sad he broke his probation though.

#5 Postby **pojo** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 7:43 pm

A hero comes from unlikely places

#6 Postby **Stephanie** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 7:58 pm

I saw that story on the news last night about the fire and how they were praising the efforts of all of the neighbors trying to get everyone out. I did not hear that story about the bicyclist. I certainly hope that perhaps a little leniency can be thrown in his direction though. That certainly was heroic!

weatherwunder · #7 Postby **weatherwunder** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 8:07 pm

Breaking parole or not, if he would not have, who knows what would have happened!

I hope they cut the guy some slack!

JQ Public · #8 Postby **JQ Public** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 2:07 pm

ITs a tricky situation, but he took it like a man and didn't put up much of a fight. He knew it was coming...he's a good kid for doing that but he has to do the time for breaking parole.

TexasStooge · #9 Postby **TexasStooge** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 12:35 pm

JQ Public wrote:ITs a tricky situation, but he took it like a man and didn't put up much of a fight. He knew it was coming...he's a good kid for doing that but he has to do the time for breaking parole.

He just knew it was conin'.

Young Bicyclist Saves Children In Apartment Fire

Young Bicyclist Saves Children In Apartment Fire

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