Brighton Father-Son Duo Recognized for Helping Put Out Fire

When 11-year-old Jack Hudson woke up on July 2, he had no idea that he would help his father, Steve, put out a fire - but that's what happened.

Jack saw smoke and flames coming from the 5000 block of Kensington Road while out riding his four-wheeler. He quickly raced home and got his dad, who followed him to the house and put out the fire - which is what earned them both Citizen's Awards from the Brighton Area Fire Authority Thursday morning.

Jack's mother, Mary, said she knew right away from the look on her son's face when he came racing home that something was not right.

"For one thing, he was riding faster than he should have been," she said.

Jack said that when he first saw the smoke, he thought the homeowner was cooking something, but then noticed nobody was home when the car in the driveway was gone.

Brighton Fire Chief Mike O'Brian said the fire was caused by a pump motor in the swimming pool.

"They did a bang-up job," O'Brian said of Hudson and his son. "The homeowners were actually able to get back in their home that night because of them."

After receiving his award, Jack, along with his mom, dad and sister Amy, 15, all got to go for a once-in-a-lifetime ride in the Fire Authority's newest Ladder truck, which will be dedicated in a Push-In Ceremony at Station 31 on Monday.