When heavy, toxic smoke began filling his home on New Year’s Day, 9-year-old Shivansh Shivansh, a third-grade student at Jefferson Elementary School, remembered what he had been taught.

Shivansh saw the oven fire, led his family outside the Cochran Road apartment building and ensured the alarm was pulled and 9-1-1 was called.

Deputy Chief Dan Morris said the fire generated a significant amount of toxic smoke after plastic cooking utensils ignited, and that the fire could have become much worse. Shivansh’s quick actions and fire safety training helped ensure a fast response and kept everyone safe until crews arrived.

“This student knew the best choice was to get outside with his family, and made sure that they evacuated with him. By making the right decision, he not only kept his loved ones safe — he made our job easier,” said Lt. Kris Siegert, who oversees fire and life safety education in Mt. Lebanon School District.

The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department recognized Shivansh this afternoon for his actions. During a ceremony at the fire station, he received a golden fire truck and took a ride in a real fire truck with his family. He credited firefighter Kris and firefighter Brian [Loughridge] for learning about fire safety “every day.”

“Never go in in because everything is burning in the house,” Shivansh said. “Stuff can burn but you can’t.”

The incident highlights the importance of Mt. Lebanon’s fire and life safety program, which educates and empowers children to prevent and react to fires at home, while also protecting themselves and their families during emergencies.

“Every firefighter dreads the idea of a home fire with trapped children,” said Siegert. “By third grade, students have created escape plans for their homes, know how to stay low under smoke, and the causes of most home fires and how to prevent them … events like this let us know our voices are being heard and taken to heart.”