9-year-old Viviana Castilleja was honored for her heroism in front of her peers at Wilson Elementary.
SAN ANTONIO — One child’s act of bravery saved a San Antonio family.
In January, 9-year-old Viviana Castilleja jumped into action when she saw fire blazing out of a roof on Edison Drive.
Today, Viviana was honored for her heroism in front of her peers at Wilson Elementary.
Classmates showed up for the soft-spoken fourth grader who said she is happy that she was able to help someone. Her normal activities involve basketball and getting good grades, not saving lives.
“It was coming from the chimney, not that tall, but you could see it was spreading to the roof,” Castilleja said.
Driving home with her grandmother and mom, Leticia Rueda, the night of January 23, she spotted flames coming out of a home.
“To see it on fire… You don’t know if it could spread easily and like jump,” she said.
“The residents had no idea,” said Rueda.
So Viviana and her mother jumped into action.
“The door was wide open, so I went in to let them know to come out,” Rueda said.
Immediately calling 911, fire crews would arrive just in time to save the home, along with two children and three adults.
“Just trying to comfort the kids – they’re the ones terrified,” Rueda said.
With the SAFD fire chief, Wilson Elementary principal and all her classmates in attendance, Castilleja received an award for her heroism.
She is a little more reluctant to speak today. She wants her peers to learn one thing from her call to action.
“If you see anything, say something,” Castilleja said.
“It’s important for us as parents to teach our children to speak up, it can be in other circumstances as well but if something doesn’t feel right, they need to know to say something to someone,” Rueda said.
“Tell an adult so they can call someone like 911,” said Viviana.