Third graders praised for spotting house fire, helping save dog
AND WE BEGIN WITH A GROUP OF THIRD GRADERS IN INDEPENDENCE SAVING A DOG FROM A BURNING HOUSE. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I’M KRIS KETZ AND I’M LARA MORITZ. IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS. KMBC9 NESS BRIAN JOHNSON HAS THE STORY TONIGHT. AND THE SPECIAL VISITORS WHO SURPRISED THOSE STUDENTS TODAY. YOU CAN STILL SEE THE AFTERMATH OF THIS FIRE WHERE WE ARE STANDING RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL. THE ROOF IS TARPED, THE FRONT IS BOARDED UP. IN INDEPENDENCE AT THOMAS HART BENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. INDEPENDENCE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION FOUR VISITS MRS. HUDSON’S THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM. SO IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG AND YOU NEED HELP, CALL 911 WRIGHT. THEY SHOW OFF THEIR GEAR. IT HELPS US FROM GETTING CUTS, TEARS AN…
Third graders praised for spotting house fire, helping save dog
AND WE BEGIN WITH A GROUP OF THIRD GRADERS IN INDEPENDENCE SAVING A DOG FROM A BURNING HOUSE. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I’M KRIS KETZ AND I’M LARA MORITZ. IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS. KMBC9 NESS BRIAN JOHNSON HAS THE STORY TONIGHT. AND THE SPECIAL VISITORS WHO SURPRISED THOSE STUDENTS TODAY. YOU CAN STILL SEE THE AFTERMATH OF THIS FIRE WHERE WE ARE STANDING RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL. THE ROOF IS TARPED, THE FRONT IS BOARDED UP. IN INDEPENDENCE AT THOMAS HART BENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. INDEPENDENCE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION FOUR VISITS MRS. HUDSON’S THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM. SO IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG AND YOU NEED HELP, CALL 911 WRIGHT. THEY SHOW OFF THEIR GEAR. IT HELPS US FROM GETTING CUTS, TEARS AND BURNS. AND ON THE INSIDE OF THIS REAL QUICK. THIS PROTECTS US FROM HEAT. THEY WANT EVERYONE TO BE COMFORTABLE AND COME TOWARD THEM. SHOULD THERE EVER BE A FIRE. LAST THURSDAY, SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENED DURING READING CLASS. I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND I SEE THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE AND I DECIDED TO REPORT IT TO THE ATCHISON. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT EVERYWHERE. ACTUALLY, AS THEY WERE SHOWING ME, THE FRONT WINDOW BLEW, SO I PICKED UP MY PHONE. I CALLED 911. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HOME. FIRE CREWS RESCUED A DOG FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE AND GAVE THE PET OXYGEN. THE DOG WAS KIND OF LETHARGIC AT FIRST AND THEN TOWARDS THE END, HE WAS WAGGING HIS TAIL AND SUPER HAPPY. SO IT WAS A REALLY COOL MOMENT FOR MY KIDDOS. EVERYONE’S GLAD THE DOG SURVIVED. HAPPY AND AND AND AND AFTER THAT, DEFEATED PEANUT BUTTER. THE STUDENTS SAW THE FIRE FROM BEGINNING TO END. IT WAS A REAL WORLD EDUCATION RIGHT IN THE CLASSROOM. THIS IS TRULY ABOUT HUMANITY, RIGHT? WHAT IT MEANS TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING TO HELP OUT YOUR FELLOW NEIGHBOR. IT’S ONE OF OUR FAVORITES CALLED A HALLIGAN. NOW, ALL THE THIRD GRADERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE GEAR AND IN A FIRE THEY KNOW TO GET OUT AND CALL 911 IN INDEPENDENCE BRIAN JOHNSON KMBC NINE NEWS. YEAH, THE KIDS LEARNED ABOUT FIRE SAFETY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHANGING SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WA
Third graders praised for spotting house fire, helping save dog
Updated: 5:15 AM CST Nov 9, 2025
Third graders at Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School in Independence, Missouri, are being recognized for quick thinking that helped save a dog trapped inside a burning home near their school.Last Thursday, during reading class, students noticed something unusual outside their window.“I look out the window and I see the house is on fire,” said third grader Shaelynn.Her classmate Emmett quickly alerted their teacher. “And I decided to report it to Mrs. Hudson,” he said.Their teacher, Addison Hudson, immediately called 911. “There was smoke coming out everywhere,” she said. “Actually, as they were showing me, the front window blew. So, I picked up my phone. I called 911.”Firefighters from Independence Fire Department Station Four rushed to the scene and rescued a dog from inside the home, giving the pet oxygen to revive it.“The dog was kind of lethargic at first,” Hudson said. “And then towards the end, he was wagging his tail and super happy. So it was a really cool moment for my kiddos.”Thankfully, no one was home at the time of the fire. The students watched from their classroom as firefighters worked to control the blaze and save the pet.“Happy. And after that they fed it peanut butter,” Emmett said with a smile.Independence firefighters later visited the school to thank the students and teach them about fire safety, showing off their gear and encouraging kids not to fear approaching firefighters in an emergency.“This is truly about humanity, right?” said Principal Montel Evans. “What it means to step up and do something to help out your fellow neighbor.”
Third graders at Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School in Independence, Missouri, are being recognized for quick thinking that helped save a dog trapped inside a burning home near their school.
Last Thursday, during reading class, students noticed something unusual outside their window.
“I look out the window and I see the house is on fire,” said third grader Shaelynn.
Her classmate Emmett quickly alerted their teacher. “And I decided to report it to Mrs. Hudson,” he said.
Their teacher, Addison Hudson, immediately called 911.
“There was smoke coming out everywhere,” she said. “Actually, as they were showing me, the front window blew. So, I picked up my phone. I called 911.”
Firefighters from Independence Fire Department Station Four rushed to the scene and rescued a dog from inside the home, giving the pet oxygen to revive it.
“The dog was kind of lethargic at first,” Hudson said. “And then towards the end, he was wagging his tail and super happy. So it was a really cool moment for my kiddos.”
Thankfully, no one was home at the time of the fire. The students watched from their classroom as firefighters worked to control the blaze and save the pet.
“Happy. And after that they fed it peanut butter,” Emmett said with a smile.
Independence firefighters later visited the school to thank the students and teach them about fire safety, showing off their gear and encouraging kids not to fear approaching firefighters in an emergency.
“This is truly about humanity, right?” said Principal Montel Evans. “What it means to step up and do something to help out your fellow neighbor.”