Physician Assistant student helps families flee fire

Then Galveston Mayor Roger Quiroga presents SAHS student Juan Briones with a proclamation for "Juan Briones Jr. Day" during the Galveston City Council meeting in May. Briones, who is beginning his third year in the Physician Assistant Studies program, was honored for his courage during a fire the night of April 22 that claimed the Galveston apartment complex where Briones and his family lived.

Through thick smoke and darkness, Briones spent about 10 minutes banging on doors and shouting out warnings to wake his neighbors before the ash and soot made it impossible to continue. After getting his own family to safety, Briones ran back to the scene to let firefighters know about an elderly man who had refused to evacuate.

"I just had to see if there was anything I could do to help," he said. No one was injured in the fire, though most residents, including the Briones, lost most or all of their personal possessions to the fire.

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