Philadelphia Fire Department recognizes heroic fifth-grader

With perhaps more composure than an adult would have, Mahlon Graham dialed 911 the morning of Feb. 16 to report a fire. He told his younger sister to continue on her way to school at St. Francis de Sales, and calmly told the 911 operator to send firefighters.

Graham is 11. He and his sister were on their way to school that morning when he noticed smoke coming from an assisted living facility, CBS reports. He pulled out a cell phone to call 911.

Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers presented Graham with a special citation today to acknowledge the fifth grader’s quick, calm thinking that helped firefighters respond to the report.