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Boy Rushes To Get Help After Garage Explodes

Last updated on Friday, July 19, 2013

(VANDERBURGH CO.) - A boy rushed to get help after an explosion at his neighbor’s house Wednesday afternoon on North Happe Road in Vanderburgh County.

WFIE reports, Jayce Dickman was sitting outside on his front porch when he saw something go terribly wrong right across the street. Fortunately, the young man knew exactly what to do.

At just 6-years-old, Jayce Dickman is, as his shirt reads, a legend in the making.

"I saw a big fire come up and sparks," Jayce told 14 News. "It looked like a bomb went off."

He knew it was up to him to get help. So he jumped off his porch and took off running.

"He ran in the front door and said he heard an explosion and there's a house on fire, to call 911," Jacyce's mom Jeannie Dickman said. "Of course, I went outside with him running and I saw the garage in flames."

"We called the fire department and they just started rushing over here," Jayce said. "The fire just took the house down."

Jeannie says the fire spread so quickly the roof of the garage was already collapsing before emergency crews arrived. She feared things were going to get much worse after the homeowner ran out shouting.

"My concern was she was yelling there was a full tank of gas in her car, so I just figured the whole thing was going to blow," Jeannie said.

"Looks a lot worse than it is," said Chief David Bretz with German Township Fire Department.

German Township Fire Chief David Bretz says while the garage is a total loss the damage to the house isn't as severe. Investigators are still looking into what caused the explosion and if a lawn mower that was used and then stored in the garage just 30 minutes before the explosion caught fire, catching the car and then the entire garage on fire.

But many here believe it was Jayce, now the neighborhood legend, who had a lot to do with making sure help got there quickly, saving much of the house.

"I was surprised he was saying call 911 and going on and on, but I'm glad that he was doing that. You don't expect that out of a 6-year-old, so I'm proud of him," Jeannie said.
Fortunately, no one was hurt. Fire crews were called back to the house Wednesday night to put out some hot spots. It took six departments to get the three-alarm fire under control.

Extra crews were called in as back-up to relieve firefighters from battling the fire and the high temperatures for too long.

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