National
Brothers band together to rescue a mother from burning house
WILMER, Alabama (WALA) — Here’s a heroic tale of brothers banding together to save a family from a burning house in Wilmer.
Those brothers were recognized Tuesday night at Semmes City Hall for their acts of bravery. The family they saved were once strangers, now friends.
It happened the morning of Fat Tuesday. Haley Deville woke up to debris swirling around her house—thinking it was a tornado. Then—she saw ash and knew her house was on fire.
It was her 9-year-old neighbor who made the 9-1-1 call.
Deville said an electrical fire started in her living room.
When the flames began closing in, she pushed her 3-year-old twins through a window, but she couldn’t make it out.
“I tried to get out myself and couldn’t fit through the window, so I took off down the hallway, and the roof came in on me, and that’s when I realized I was trapped,” she said.
Two doors down, 9-year-old Wesley was doing chores in his yard. He heard something and knew there was trouble.
“I went to the front to trim our bushes some, and then I heard glass breaking and screaming,” said Wesley Balentine.
He called for his older brother Jared, and he acted.
“When I heard her scream, my first thought was someone was being attacked,” said Jared Cooper. “I took off, saw the smoke, just followed instinct and let it take over.”
Jared served in the army and has combat medical training. He felt confident he could save her.
“I took off, jumped the fence, got back there, found her stuck in the room, busted what was left of a window, and pulled her out of there, and just started medical treatment, doing everything I could until EMS got there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wesley did what he could. He picked up his phone and called 9-1-1.
“I told them Jim Tom Circle, see a bunch of smoke going around and that’s the house,” said Wesley. “That was my first time calling 9-1-1. I was just in a rush to call and get the firefighters over here.”
Tuesday night, Jared, Wesley, and their other brother Clark were recognized at Semmes City Hall for their courageous, life-saving acts.
Jared received the “Citizen Hero Award,” which came as a big surprise to him.
“I don’t consider myself a hero,” said Jared. “If there is no one else around, and you hear something, you should reach out and do your job.”
Haley said she can’t thank him enough.
“I owe him everything,” she said. “If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be there today.”
The other man of the hour, staying out of the spotlight.
“Until this whole thing blows over, I think I’m going to have to keep a low profile,” said Wesley.
Thankfully, Haley walked away with only a few cuts, but also a bigger family. She sees these brothers as her own now.
She has a GoFundMe to help buy a new car that burned in the fire. To donate, click here.
The family is also hosting a fish fry, silent auction fundraiser on April 30 at American Legion on Halls Mill Road. Anyone is welcome to join.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
By: Pristine Villarreal
March 9, 2023
Latest Instagram Posts
At the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, first responders, families and community members came together to honor the lives lost—and the heroes who answered the call 25 years ago on September 11, 2001. Two first responders who responded to opposite sides of the World Trade Center met for the first time at the event, sharing a powerful moment of remembrance and connection. 26 flights. Three times. One enduring message: Never Forget. #NeverForget #September11 #911Memorial #MemorialStairClimb #FirstResponders HonorAndRemember 911
Palm Desert’s future takes center stage next week. The Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce presents the 2026 State of the City Address & Luncheon on Friday, September 18, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort. The event brings together local business leaders, community members and city stakeholders for an inside look at the priorities, opportunities and future of Palm Desert. Friday, September 18 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort Palm Desert Individual tickets are $85 for Chamber members and $95 for non-members. Get the details and registration information from the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce. #PalmDesert #StateOfTheCity #CoachellaValley #PalmDesertBusiness #GreaterPalmSprings #PalmDesertChamber
25 years later, the memories of 9/11 remain vivid for the firefighters who witnessed the tragedy firsthand. A longtime FDNY firefighter reflects on the trauma, loss and moments that have stayed with him a quarter-century after the attacks. #911 #September11 #NeverForget #FDNY #Firefighter #911Anniversary #25YearsLater #NewYorkCity #Remembering911 #NBCTPalmSprings
A troubling history is coming to light in a Palm Desert husband’s death. 65-year old Vicky Kim is accused in the death of her husband — but prosecutors say she had previously faced several domestic violence cases involving him. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office says it had secured protective orders against Kim before a judge later resolved her cases as misdemeanors, released her from custody and terminated those orders. Now, Kim is expected to be arraigned in connection with her husband’s death. Court records allege the weapon used was a flagpole.
☕️🔥 How hot is TOO hot? A new study finds that drinking scalding-hot beverages may be linked to nearly 3 times the risk of esophageal cancer—the most common type of cancer affecting the esophagus. The takeaway? Let that coffee, tea or other hot drink cool down before taking a sip. ❤️ #HealthNews #EsophagealCancer #CancerRisk #HotBeverages #Coffee #Tea #CancerAwareness #HealthyHabits #HealthTips
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. The squishy craze!
Coachella city council unanimously approved an anti-nepotism rule that ban an any Councilmember from appointing a family member or household member to the city’s commissions and committees. Tune in to our 11 p.m newscast as our @newsbyalondra breaks down the policy.
An anti-nepotism rule will be discussed and voted on at tonight’s Coachella City Council meeting - that would ban city council members from appointing their own family members or household members to commissions and committees. Tune in to our 8:30 p.m newscast and our socials and website as our @newsbyalondra brings us the latest details on that final vote.
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. What’s your favorite NFL team?
A major cleanup is underway after powerful waves damaged 14 beachfront homes near Capistrano Beach in Orange County. Residents are concerned their homes could remain vulnerable without protective measures in place. Crews are clearing debris, while efforts to bring in protective boulders were delayed by high tide. #California #OrangeCounty #CapistranoBeach #CoastalWaves #Beachfront #WeatherNews