Ingrid Vasquez is a Digital News Writer at PEOPLE. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Journalism. Before joining the team, she worked as an Editor at FanSided and provided work in the celebrity and lifestyle space for brands that include Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, EW, and more.
An 8-year-old boy with Down syndrome became a hero after he alerted his 14-year-old sister of a fire in their Colorado home, helping them get out on time before it was engulfed in flames.
According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, the fire broke just before noon on Sunday, Dec. 1, while Grayson and Ava Grace were alone in the 4800 block of S. Gibraltar Ln. in Centennial, Colo.
"Anywhere there was a hole in the house, there was smoke coming out of it," said Deputy Ryan McConnell in a video posted alongside an update from the department on X.
"As soon as I got near the house, I heard the kids screaming. My first thought was they were still inside. Obviously, they were terrified, had no idea what was going on. Both of them were screaming and crying," he said.
The kids' mother, Renee Unruh, told KCNC-TV that she and her husband, Steven, were only a few miles away at her mom's home. While they were away, she could see the smoke filling the sky, unaware that it was coming from her residence, Unruh told the outlet.
Before the kids could make their way to the backyard, Grayson quickly called to his sister, who was downstairs, to get out.
"He was yelling, 'Ava, Ava!' And kept yelling, 'Ava, Ava.' He kind of saved her life. He's our hero," their mother told KCNC-TV.
Body camera footage shared online by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office showed McConnell and Deputy Chris Calderon arriving at the front door of the family residence as thick black smoke came out of it.
According to the department, after being unable to enter the backyard through a blocked gate, they gained access through a neighbor's home by tearing down part of a wooden fence with their bare hands.
The body camera footage shows the moment the deputies begin breaking down the fence as the children's cries and screams can be heard in the background.
"My room's on fire," Grayson could be heard saying multiple times as he and his sister are led to the sidewalk of their home and firefighters begin putting the blaze out.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said both deputies suffered smoke inhalation and were treated at the scene by paramedics. According to the South Metro Fire Rescue, the two kids were also treated at the scene and released with no further medical needs.
Never miss a story -- sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
"One SMFR firefighter was treated on-site and transported to a local hospital for further evaluation," the department added in a statement on Facebook. "Sadly one dog and one cat did not survive the fire while 4 cats remain unaccounted for."