A Sherman Oaks neighborhood is thanking their unexpected hero after a 13-year-old boy sprang into action when he noticed a fire in the middle of the night, saving them from a possible tragedy. Myron Tkechenko was sleeping on the couch in the living room of his family’s home, in the midst of a sleepover, at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, when he noticed something was wrong. Surveillance camera footage from a neighbor’s house shows what was likely the simultaneous moments that a fire broke out in the bushes outside of their Hesby Street home, as a person pushing a shopping cart stopped for a few minutes.
“I heard, like, crackling and something, like, burning,” Tkechenko said. “I was trying to think of the best thing to do, so I thought getting everyone out of the house was the priority.” He woke his family up and got everyone to safety within minutes. The security camera video shows the unidentified person looking at the fire before walking away. A short time later, Tkechenko’s family is seen rushing from the home and moving their cars out of the fire’s path. Then, Tkechenko and his father are seen fighting the fire on their own, stopping it just feet from their house and several of their neighbors’. “I was filling up the pots, and he was taking them and just making sure the fire wouldn’t spread to our house,” Tkechenko said.
Neighbors, all very grateful for the teen’s quick thinking, say that the incident highlights a bigger issue that the community is facing, including recent incidents of vandalism and other crimes they believe are tied to homelessness. “I was horrified, because should that young man not have been awakened and called 911 when he did to get the fire department here, who knows what would have happened,” said Penny Johnson. Johnson is the neighborhood watch captain on their street, and as such, her house is fitted with 16 security cameras, including the one that captured the moments the person appeared to set the fire.
“Almost everybody on the block has kids, and they’re scared, and that’s not right,” Johnson said. “I just want the city council and the mayor to work together to get this problem solved.” As for Tkechenko and his family, they’re feeling grateful that he was in the right place at the right time, but still on edge considering the way the blaze broke out. “I’m pretty sad, honestly. I don’t really know how he did it,” Tkechenko said. “I feel like I’m really lucky that I woke up. I feel like my family’s lucky, and the neighborhood is.” Neighbors say that they’re gathering additional security video from the area in hopes of identifying the person seen in the video.
Shoppers in Texas and Florida are being asked to check their freezers for beef imported from Argentina that is now being recalled by federal officials. The Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Friday that Corte Argentino – a company based in Aventura, Florida – recalled nearly 30,000 pounds of raw…
Health officials in Harford and Anne Arundel counties have issued new rabies alerts involving a racoon, a fox and a bat. The Harford County Health Department said Tuesday it had received confirmation from state health officials that two animals — a racoon and a fox — had tested positive for the rabies virus. The rabid…
Footage posted on social media shows a young baby being pulled alive from the rubble of a destroyed building in Colombia after a 7.-magnitude earthquake struck the country Monday. The video, posted by Brian Osorio Zuluaga on Monday night, shows a group of people combing through the rubble of a building in Cali, asking a…
It was a piranha out of water and way out of place. Saturday was no ordinary fishing trip for Seamus Coffey and his dad, Michael. They were at Ridley Park Lake when the young angler reeled in a catch he won’t soon forget. “I caught two catfish,” Seamus said. The 8-year-old Seamus says he normally…
A mother bear and her two cubs were spotted Tuesday in Auburn, marking the latest after a string of recent bear sightings across western Placer County. The Auburn Police Department said the bears were seen near Lincoln Way and Russell Road. “A friendly reminder to our neighbors: We live in bear country! Please keep an…
You don’t have to carry this alone, He is your safe place and your help in every moment of need. Bible Verse:God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 God is your refuge when everything feels unstable. When your body is tired…
Forty miles west of Minneapolis, Howard Lake mixes water recreation with country living. But a couple weeks ago, the small town got a visit from an unexpected feline guest. A security camera captured video of what appears to be a cougar strolling through a neighborhood. “Generally, it’s pretty quiet. People like to get out on their four-wheelers…
Waterfowl on lakes and rivers are a common sight. But it’s the not-so-common loon that when seen in person is often the apple of a photographer’s eye, especially for Chris Whitty. “I’ve been taking pictures of loons and birds on the various lakes for a long time,” he said. Capturing wildlife on camera is one…
CuriOdyssey, a San Mateo animal rescue and zoo is still cleaning up after being battered by the winter storms. The powerful storms also destroyed animals’ habitats, obscured walkways and made it dangerous for staff and visitors. Source: Bay Area animal rescue and zoo needs help to recover from severe storm damage – YouTube
A beloved Springfield, Massachusetts, zoo is closed, after significant damage from a powerful macroburst on Saturday. Before the gates at The Zoo in Forest Park can reopen, there’s a lot of work to do to make sure it’s safe for the animals and the people who come to see them. The animals are safe, but…
You may not have strength for tomorrow, but God promises enough grace for today. One step at a time, He will carry you forward. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not…
God does not ask you to be flawless before coming to Him. He asks you to come as you are. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9…
New shark-spotting technology has been on full display this summer—and for good reason. With shark activity on the rise, the Nassau County Police Marine Bureau is on the front lines, using new technology to patrol local waters and help keep beachgoers safe. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne reports from Lido Beach, New York. Source: Dangers…
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Monday continued to investigate a black bear attack in Barron County that landed a 69-year-old woman in the hospital. What You Need To Know The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Monday continued to investigate a black bear attack in Barron County that landed a 69-year-old woman in the…
Your life is moving in the direction of your heart, whether you realize it or not. What you allow in today will shape who you become tomorrow. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 Your heart is valuable territory. Offense gains access when boundaries are weak.…
From a distance, it looks like a kayak or a surfboard. But it’s not a person enjoying an afternoon at the beach — it’s a new high-tech device to look for great white sharks. Researchers at Cal State Long Beach have begun testing what they are calling a “semi-autonomous shark surveillance bot.” The unmanned craft,…
There is a deep kind of pain that comes when the people who we thought were family and were meant to reflect God’s light but instead become a source of darkness. Church hurt cuts deeply because it often comes wrapped in Scripture, authority, and trust. Jesus warned that not everyone who speaks in His name…
A bear was spotted in Roseville on Wednesday morning, one day after police in neighboring Rocklin issued an alert about a similar sighting. Roseville Fire said the bear was seen near Foothills Boulevard between Blue Oaks Boulevard and Pleasant Grove Boulevard. Roseville police said they received three reports of a bear sighting, all between 2…
The borough of Oakmont has voted to move forward with a harvesting program to bring down its deer population. This has been a wildlife management tool used to great effect by other places before, including the city of Pittsburgh. While Oakmont is known for its famous golf course and bakery, it is now also known…
More than half a dozen white sharks have been spotted close to shore in Scarborough, Maine over a 48-hour period, prompting warnings and increased monitoring near a popular beach. The sightings have generated interest from both beachgoers and biologists. Scarborough Marine Resource Officer Daryen Granata said many of the sharks spotted in the area are…
A massive 8-foot python was found in a New Jersey backyard. The 40-pound snake is now safely back in a cage, but not before it gave residents in Freehold a scare. The snake was spotted last week in the backyard of Leslie and Edward Daley. It was slithering slowly, with a full belly. “I was…
A beaver that bit a 19-year-old fisherman at a Maryland state park Wednesday morning tested positive for rabies, the Maryland Department of Health confirmed. The man was bitten on the leg while visiting the William Houck Area of Cunningham Falls State Park at Hunting Creek Lake near Thurmont, Maryland. It was the second beaver to…
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” This verse teaches believers not to seek personal revenge when they are hurt or wronged. As Christians we are called to trust God’s justice, knowing that He sees every situation and will…
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” This verse explains that Jesus’ birth fulfilled the prophecy spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child.” These verses reveal that Jesus was not…
What the world calls waste, Jesus calls worship, your sacrifice for Him is never overlooked. Bold, extravagant faith stands out in a culture that misunderstands true devotion. “She has done a beautiful thing to me.” — Mark 14:6 When a woman poured her expensive perfume on Jesus, she offered Him something costly and deeply personal.…
Pip: Drink of Jesus is a site that treats ancient Scripture the way a good contractor treats load-bearing walls — you don’t move them just because the room looks dated. Mara: Today we’re covering three stretches of territory from Drink of Jesus: God as a steady refuge when life turns chaotic, the inner discipline of…
Chrysler is recalling more than 1.27 million Ram 1500 pickup trucks because the second-row seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall affects Ram 1500 trucks from the 2019 through 2026 model years. NHTSA said the anchors fail to meet federal safety standards. An…
The Old Trails Fire that sparked near Old Trails Road and W Euclid Road has burned 3,621 acres as of Monday, according to an incident PIO. It is one of three major wildfires in northwest Spokane County, called the Spokane Area Fires. Level 3 (Go Now!) Evacuations are in place for the following areas Level…
When life feels too heavy to carry and every door seems shut, God is still moving in places you cannot see. Your breaking point may be the very place where His healing power begins. Every silent tear matters to God, even the ones no one else notices. Bible Verse:When the righteous cry for help, the…
Three lions at a Tokyo zoo have died from suspected heatstroke and others are under treatment, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday, with the big cats struggling with high humidity. Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year and parts of the country have hit 40 degrees Celsius in recent weeks, qualifying for the…