The early morning calm in Centennial, Colorado was shattered by frantic voices and the rising plume of black smoke curling into the sky. A desperate 911 call had come in: a house was on fire, and two children were unaccounted for.

Ryan McDonnell and Chris Calderón- two Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office deputies were the first on the scene. As they pulled up, they were met with thick, choking smoke and flames licking out of shattered windows. The children’s voices were faint, but unmistakable — cries for help rising above the crackle of the fire.

With no time to wait, the deputies pushed through the smoke. Chris tried the front door, but the blast of heat and smoke drove him back. Ryan ran for the backyard. The gate was blocked by debris, but they could hear the children on the other side.

Knowing every second mattered, they didn’t hesitate. Together, they tore down part of the neighbor’s fence and then pulled apart boards next to the burning home. A young girl climbed over. Her brother was too afraid to move. Chris reached through the splintered wood and pulled the boy to safety, carrying him over the debris as flames roared behind them.

By the time firefighters arrived, the children were safe in the front yard. But the toll was heavy — three first responders were injured, and six pets remained missing in the chaos. The home was engulfed, but two lives had been saved because two deputies chose to act, not hesitate.

For their compassion and lifesaving acts, Deputies Chris and Ryan will receive the Lifesaving First Responder Heroes at the American Red Cross Rocky Mountain Heroes Soirée on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

A heartfelt thank you to Tallgrass Energy for making this award possible and for your generous support of the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming.