Jake Smith and his mom, Wendy, are both lucky they are still alive today. They now have a new home, but old memories still remain around their peaceful property in Arlington, Washington. Some of those memories are not pleasant at all with the Smith home burning completely to the ground in May of 2019.
Jake told King 5 that he tries not to think about that incident and it is just something that will always be there. The fire that struck their residence is believed to have been caused by a barbecue.
Jake, his mother and her boyfriend were inside the house when the fire happened. He climbed out a second-floor window and came upon her mom's boyfriend. Jake asked him where his mom was at that point and he replied that he lost her when they were coming down the stairs. Jake went into a panic when he said that she never made it out.
Jake finds his mother unconscious in a closet
Upon learning that information, Jake immediately ran back inside the house to find his mother. He started crawling on his hands and knees after he was forced out by flames the first time he tried entering the house. He felt his way along the floorboards through the choking, thick black smoke until he discovered his mother unconscious in a closet.
Jake said he did not have time to think about anything as it is just your mom at that point. He said that as he was crawling inside the house, he was thinking that he needed to get out of there. Luckily for Jake, he went a little further and found his mom.
In fact, luck played another part in the dramatic rescue. Jake had only moved back in with his mother two days earlier because he was remodeling his house. Wendy said there have been so many things that just were a miracle that night that just happened.
Jake is being awarded the prestigious Carnegie Medal, which is considered to be North America's highest civilian honor for heroism, for his bravery during that fire. Wendy said it is an honor that is very well deserved. She is so proud of her son, saying that for him to run inside that burning house is amazing.
Jake Smith wishes he never had to win Carnegie Medal
It is an honor, though, that Jake wishes he never had to win. He said that while their house has been rebuilt, his mother still suffers the effects of a scorched airway due to the fire. Wendy has now endured eight surgeries, the last one of which led to a heart attack and stroke.
She now has a difficult time breathing and speaking and is forced to use a wheelchair. That being said, Jake and Wendy prefer to focus on the positive and that is their bond has become stronger after the incident. Jake said everybody made it out and you can't get luckier than that. He added that life happens and he is just glad that he still has his mom.
According to CBS News, the Carnegie Medal, which is molded in bronze, comes with $5,500 and other financial support.
