Boy hailed a neighborhood hero after vacant house fire spreads through neighbor’s home in northwest Harris County

HOUSTON – A boy is hailed a neighborhood hero after he called police for a fire that occurred in northwest Harris County early Friday morning.

Caden Rohrick was alerted of the fire by his mother, which ignited inside a vacant home at Vanlynn Lane and Red Wolf Court around 12:40 a.m. He proceeded to alert the other neighbors in the area by knocking on the door and calling the police.

“It was just smoking ash everywhere, like ash all over the skies,” he said. “I was scared that other houses were going to catch on fire.”

The fire from the vacant house spread next door to Diamond Braxton’s grandparents’ home.

“It’s just very emotional for everybody, especially when you go inside and see how something can go from one thing to the next. No one expected today to be like this,” Braxton said.

The family spent the morning boxing up picture frames and clothes. Braxton said she’s grateful for Caden who saved her grandparent’s life.

“That’s the light at the end of the tunnel. This fire could have been way worse, so why this is awful we are just thankful that we are still here,” she said.

“I feel really great about it. It feels good that they got out safe and that no one was injured,” Rohrick said.

Cy-Fair fire crews responded to the scene where the fire was extinguished safely. The cause of the fire is still unknown.


About the Authors:

A graduate of the University of Houston-Downtown, Ana moved to H-Town from sunny southern California in 2015. In 2020, she joined the KPRC 2 digital team as an intern. Ana is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, a catmom of 3, and an aquarium enthusiast. In her spare time, she's an avid video gamer and loves to travel.