12-year-old with autism woke up to his house filling up with smoke—then heroically saved his family

In moments of crisis, true heroes often emerge from the most unexpected places. That was the case in Warrensburg, where a young boy's clever thinking and bravery saved his family from a dangerous fire. Cohen Moos, a 12-year-old with autism, didn't hesitate to jump into action when he smelled smoke early morning, as per News Channel 13. He made sure everyone in his home was safe. It was just after 6 am on Friday. "I was asleep in bed and I suddenly smelled smoke and then the furnace was on fire," he told the network.

Without wasting a moment, Cohen rushed to alert his mother Melissa Moos, who, at first, didn’t think much of the sound of the furnace kicking on. "Actually I did. I was like, that’s weird, it’s warm out, why did the furnace come on?" she said. But within moments, thick black smoke began filling their home, and Cohen knew exactly what to do. "I wasn’t afraid at all," he said. "I’m quite the little hero." His instincts took over, and he made sure everyone in the house was awake and aware of the danger. His mother, overwhelmed with pride, recognized that her son’s unique way of seeing the world allowed him to react with clarity in a high-pressure moment.

"I’m super proud of him," Melissa said. "He doesn’t realize (people see him differently). He sees the world in Cohen’s world. That’s what makes him special." For Cohen, being a hero simply meant looking out for the person he loved most. "If I’m looking after my mom, I think I’m going to be the biggest hero ever," he said. The bond between Cohen and his mother is unshakable. "We get each other," Melissa said. "The world doesn’t get him, but we get each other for sure." 

Cohen, having confidence in himself, knows this won’t be the last time his quick thinking will be needed. "It’ll come a time when my powers will be needed," he said. Cohen's story is a reminder that not all heroes wear capes. In another story of quick-thinking and bravery, professional jump-roper David Fisher used his jump ropes to save a teenager from freezing to death in an icy pond. The incident happened in Westfield, Indiana, on a cold December morning in 2024. Fisher, 61, was outside with his 19-year-old son, Felix, when they heard desperate cries for help. Across the street, a teenager had fallen through the ice while trying to rescue his family’s dog, which had slipped into the water while chasing geese.

While the dog managed to swim back to shore, the teen was struggling in the freezing water. Realizing the urgency, Fisher grabbed his jump ropes and rushed to the scene. Tossing the rope to the boy, he guided him to grab hold, and together with Felix, they pulled him to safety. Fisher also left a second rope on the shore in case he needed rescuing himself. After ensuring the teen was safe, the Fishers took the family back to their home, providing warm clothes as they waited for paramedics. Reflecting on the rescue, Fisher expressed gratitude for being in the right place at the right time. "I'm just very thankful that my son was outside because I'm not sure anybody else would have heard anything," he said.