Young Hero : Marianna Fire Rescue’s Impact Reaches Beyond Emergencies

By: Shelia Mader

For the men and women of Marianna Fire Rescue, the job doesn’t end when the trucks return to the station. Much of their most important work happens long before an emergency ever begins.

That reality was on full display last week when a five-year-old Marianna child put fire safety lessons into action and likely prevented a much more serious situation.

On April 30, Marianna Fire Rescue learned about a close call involving a local family whose back porch caught fire while dinner was being prepared. As adults worked to assess the situation, Rylen Mitchell-Hayes, a student at Jacola, acted quickly.

The young boy ran to the garage, retrieved a fire extinguisher, and brought it to the scene helping stop the fire from spreading.

Fire Chief Michael Hall and his team later visited Rylen at his home, arriving with a fire truck and presenting him with a Certificate of Heroism. The visit turned into something Rylen will likely never forget.

As his grandfather, Ron Mitchell, wrote in a letter to the department, “As we were trying to figure this thing out, he gave us the extinguisher and we put the fire out… Rylen is our super-hero. He kept the house from possibly being burned.”

According to the family, Rylen didn’t hesitate. He told his grandmother he was going to get the extinguisher, put on his Crocs, climbed to retrieve it from the garage, and brought it around the house to the porch.

The fire, believed to be a grease fire from a grill, was extinguished before it could spread further.

Each year, Marianna Fire Rescue visits Jacola and other daycares and schools across the area to teach students about fire prevention, safety and what to do in an emergency. Those lessons, often delivered in simple, memorable ways, are designed to stay with children long after the firefighters leave campus.

In this case, they did exactly that. “Moments like this are a powerful reminder that what we teach in our schools truly sticks,” the department shared in a social media post. “The lessons learned during fire prevention programs can make a real difference when it matters most.”

For Marianna Fire Rescue, community involvement is a daily commitment.

Firefighters regularly visit schools throughout Marianna, speaking with students about fire safety and prevention. They spend time at daycares, teaching even the youngest children about dangers in the home and how to respond.

At Marianna K-8, it’s not uncommon to see firefighters at morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up, greeting students and building relationships that make them familiar, trusted faces.

They also take part in community events, often bringing along a crowd favorite “Rescue,” a firefighter in a Dalmatian dog suit who helps connect with younger children in a fun, approachable way.

All of it serves a larger purpose: making sure that when a moment of crisis comes, people know what to do.

After learning about Rylen’s actions, school officials encouraged the family to contact the fire department. Chief Hall responded immediately, arranging a visit that same evening.

When the fire truck arrived, Rylen ran toward it excitedly, telling his family, “Hey Buddy! Let me go get my fire extinguisher!” During the visit, firefighters showed him every part of the truck and officially recognized his actions. According to his grandfather, Rylen summed up the experience in a way only a child can, “This is the best day of my life.”

The Mitchell family expressed deep gratitude to Chief Hall and his crew, not just for recognizing Rylen, but for the time they took to make the moment meaningful. “This act of recognition has made a lasting impression in his life,” the letter states, thanking the department for showing “what community service and doing the right thing is all about.”

While Rylen’s story is remarkable, it also reflects something broader. Fire prevention education, community outreach, and simple, consistent presence all add up over time. For Marianna Fire Rescue, those efforts are just as important as responding to calls.

And sometimes, as one young boy proved, those lessons can make all the difference.