Michael Laws, City of DeSoto Fire Marshal, presented Mr. Diaz with a plaque that stated: "The City of DeSoto Civilian Life Saving Award - In appreciation to Ramon Diaz for your lifesaving actions on December 31, 2007 presented by the DeSoto City Council, DeSoto Fire Prevention, and DeSoto Fire Rescue." Anthony Aguilar and his mother were also in attendance.
"On Monday, December 31, 2007, Ramon Diaz was preparing to move some more items out of his old house and into the new house down the street. As he pulled around back, he saw smoke coming from his neighbor’s shed. He hooked up a garden hose and went next door to put out the fire. When he arrived, he discovered that the door to the shed would not open. A little girl told Mr. Diaz that her puppy was in the shed. Mr. Diaz broke out a window in an effort to get water into the shed. There was so much smoke he could not see in. He gave the hose to the little girl and got down on the ground to try and force open the door. Mr. Diaz was able to pry open the door. When the door opened he was hit with hot smoke and gases. It almost knocked him over. He could see the fire burning in the SE corner of the shed. He put water on the fire and extinguished it. As this was being done the smoke began to clear. About this time the family had been alerted to the fire and came outside. They did not see 6 year old Anthony Aguilar anywhere. They knew he had been outside playing just a few minutes before. Anthony’s grandmother looked in the shed and saw young Anthony laying face down about 5 feet inside the shed. She got him out and laid him on the ground. He regained consciousness and began to cry (a good sign). He was transported by ambulance to Children’s MedicalCenter in Dallas. The puppy was also removed from the shed in good shape.
We honor Ramon Diaz tonight, because he went out of his way to become involved in helping someone else in trouble. He didn’t know a young boy lay inside that shed. He first responded when he thought there was a fire only. He worked hard at helping when he thought that there was a little girl’s puppy inside the burning building. What a wonderful gift he gave in being able to help a young boy survive what could have been a terrible tragedy. There is no doubt that in just a few more minutes, Anthony would have succumbed to the smoke and fire in that shed.
Thank you, Ramon Diaz for being willing to involve yourself in the lives of others in a time of emergency. You said on the news broadcast that anyone would have done the same, but that day only you were there and only you acted."
