At approximately 5 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, a fire engulfed the home of a senior couple in a Vienna neighborhood. Jared Wood (’17) heard the cries for help and approached the scene, making the 911 call and carrying an injured elderly woman away from the burning building.

“She couldn’t walk because she fell down the stairs. We had to move away from the building because the fire kept growing, so I had to carry [her] across the street,” Wood said. “I could hear the windows popping behind me.”

The woman and her husband were able to escape their home and receive assistance from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. The fire was extinguished and the woman was treated for smoke inhalation.

Wood humbly reflects on his experience, despite his heroic actions.

“It seemed almost like a dream. I think I did everything I possibly could. I’m glad everybody got out okay,” Wood said.