Cody Santiago

Cody Santiago isn't quite sure what to think of awards.

The 14-year-old from Mount Wolf has amassed quite a collection -- enough to fill a large display case in his parents' living room -- but he is both sheepish and proud as he surveys the sports trophies and academic awards that line the shelves.

Still, despite being slightly embarrassed, Cody added a special award to the collection today.

Named a hero: The teen is one of eight York County residents honored this morning at the fourth annual Red Cross Heroes of York County awards breakfast.

The awards recognize people who show courage and kindness by acts of heroism within the community, according to event organizers.

Cody has been named this year's Firefighter Hero; Cody and his mother helped 15 people to safety after eight row houses caught fire in January.

He said he was surprised when he got the call telling him he'd won an award.

"I really didn't think I deserved it.I thought there might have been someone else who did more than I did," Cody said.

But Cody's parents said they weren't surprised.

"I am very proud, but I can say nothing from Cody surprises me ...
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Didn't think twice: For his part, Cody said he wasn't looking to be a hero or win an award; he didn't think twice when his pager went off at 2 a.m. that day, alerting him to the fire only several blocks away.

Cody, a cadet firefighter with Eagle Fire Co. in Mount Wolf, quickly got dressed and ran down the street to see what he could do.

Arriving before the fire truck and other firefighters, Cody and Joyce Santiago began knocking on doors, rousing their neighbors and helping them to safety.
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After the neighbors were safely evacuated, Cody hurried to the fire station to help his fellow firefighters, and he stayed at the scene for hours.

Seventeen people -- 14 adults and three children -- were displaced by the fire on the first block of Fourth Street.
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Love of community : Cody started as a junior firefighter when he was 12 and then became a cadet.He said he would often train three nights a week and participate in weekend trainings.

As a junior or cadet firefighter, Cody is called to the scene of all emergencies that the fire company responds to.

Cody said dealing with bloody or traumatic scenes has not been difficult for him; in fact, he said he hopes to become a trauma surgeon one day.

"You don't think about it, you just do your job. ...But knowing that you helped that person just makes your day.It is greater than any feeling in the world," he said.

Although Cody could work as a cadet until he is 18, he has had to cut back on his work with the fire department this year because of school and sports commitments.

In addition to baseball and basketball, Cody is the quarterback of the newly formed Northeastern School District junior high football team.

The district program kicked off this year with the junior.Next year, the program will add a junior varsity squad before a full-fledged varsity program is established in 2008.

But Cody may return to being a firefighter or emergency worker; it's in his blood.His father, grandfather, and uncle have all been volunteer firefighters.

"It is just like sports," Cody said of firefighting, "you do it for the love of the game; you do it for the love of the community."