Best friends Cammerin Inselsberger, Carter Jacobson and Gabriel Hernandez were recognized by their school and community for their heroic act of rescuing two dogs from a house fire.

They were the first to arrive at the smoking house just down the street from where they were doing yardwork.

“We banged on the door and rang the doorbell and nobody answered,” Gabriel said. “And then Carter said, ‘There’s dogs in there.’”

Cammerin said he doesn’t remember much of what he was thinking during the rescue but at that moment he recalls thinking, “We have a job to do, we’ve got to get in there and save anything that is saveable.”

Propane tanks were exploding and the fire was spreading to other homes and their adrenaline kicked in. The boys kicked down the front door and ran through the house to see if anyone was there. They grabbed the frightened dogs and got them outside as the fire spread further and faster into the house.

Gabriel said he didn’t really think about the danger until later, when he realized some of his hair had been singed. “I don't regret being in there, I regret not being as careful as I should have been,” he said.

His mom, Gabriela Aguillon, said her first response was to scold her son because of her concern for his safety. But she was also very proud and glad to know her 17-year-old lives by the values she has taught him even when she’s not around.

“It was that moment when you realize your child is growing up and becoming the man he is going to be,” Aguillon said.

She’s grateful for the family, friends and community that have had a positive influence on him.

Heidi Jacobson, Carter’s mom, said her son always wants to help people.

"I said ‘No more running into burning houses!’ but they would do that again in a heartbeat,” she said.

The young men were honored several weeks after the fire when school and city officials paid them a surprise visit at their school, Copper Hills High School. They were applauded by West Jordan firefighters, police officers, city council members, representatives from Jordan School District and Copper Hills High School faculty and students.

The humble heroes received pins and tokens of recognition and appreciation for their efforts from Copper Hills High School Principal Rae Garrison, the SBO president, Jordan Education Foundation Director Mike Haynes and West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton. 

Jordan School District Safety Director Matt Alvernaz, in the “Honor of Excellence” tradition of the military and law enforcement, gave each young man a special ‘challenge coin.’

“A challenge coin is something that is given as a token of appreciation and respect for those who go above and beyond the regular everyday expectations of society,” Alvernaz said. He said it is a rare honor; in the time he has worked at the school district, he has only ever awarded one other challenge coin to a student.

West Jordan fire fighters and police officers congratulated the boys on their quick thinking response in the face of danger. Fire Chief Derek Maxfield said they had provided vital information for the fire department’s investigation. As first on the scene, they were able to give details about where the fire started.

As the Gonzales family deals with the aftermath of the fire that destroyed their home and belongings, they expressed relief that they didn’t also lose their dogs, Rocky and Simba, because of the boys’ heroic rescue.

“We are so eternally grateful to them because our family is whole,” Zera Gonzales said.