Heroic Act by 8-Year-Old De’Meria Thomas
- Date & Location
On August 15, 2025, firefighters were dispatched to a single-story brick home in Greenville, Mississippi after a report of a house fire. - What She Did
Eight-year-old De’Meria Thomas acted quickly after her younger brother alerted her to the fire. She grabbed a fire extinguisher and used the P.A.S.S. method—Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side—to extinguish it before firefighters arrived. - Outcome
Her swift actions prevented the fire from spreading. All occupants, including her grandparents, escaped safely with no injuries reported. - Recognition
The Greenville Fire Department publicly praised her bravery and credited fire safety education for empowering her actions. As a reward, they invited De’Meria to participate in their Kids Academy free of charge in June 2026. - Wider Coverage
Multiple local and national outlets reported her heroism, including WLBT, Vicksburg Daily News, Tippah News, and Black News, highlighting both her courage and the importance of fire prevention education.
