LAKEWOOD — They saw fire, and they ran toward it.
Five mothers smashed windows at Lakewood Elementary School, reached inside the burning building for fire extinguishers and helped quash flames that firefighters say may have otherwise engulfed the school on July 23.
The women, affectionately dubbed “the hero moms,” were honored Wednesday evening with plaques and accolades from school officials and firefighters. Without the brave actions of the women — Angela Ramirez, Tracy Melton, Terri Virdell, Jamie Miller and Dawn Taylor — and the three men who also rushed to the fire — Art Cooper, Jim Venturo and Justin Bradley — the school could have been destroyed, said Fred Owyen executive director of operations for the Lakewood School District.
The eight received two plaques each and a standing ovation from about 100 fans during the ceremony at Lakewood High School.
“Everyone on site feels like it was just minutes from exploding in flames,” Owyen said.
Three of the women were watching their sons’ football camp outside Lakewood Elementary when they spotted smoke and took off toward the school. Fresh from work at a credit union, Ramirez, a mother of two, sprinted to the school in a business suit and heels.
“Your instinct just takes off,” Ramirez said. “I’m thinking I’m going over there and keeping everyone away, but when I got over there it was just the ladies and a few gentlemen. It’s like, ‘Holy cow! You need to help.’ “
Melton and Virdell were walking laps around the track when they saw smoke. They stopped walking and ran.
“We were just happy we made the run,” Melton said, laughing with Virdell after the ceremony. “We were on the high school track. It’s a long run.”
The fire caused around $200,000 of damage to the exterior of the school and four classrooms. Two of the classrooms should be repaired and ready for the first day of school on Sept. 2, Lakewood Superintendent Dennis Haddock said. The other classrooms should be ready by Sept. 8, he said.
School officials played a recording of Mariah Carey’s song “Hero” during a slideshow of photos from the fire.
Marysville Fire District Chief Greg Corn said he was impressed that the eight thought to break school windows to retrieve fire extinguishers.
“If it had not been for the quick-thinking action of these heroic citizens, the outcome would have been much, much different,” he said.
Jeff Berry attended the ceremony because he knows two of the women and is impressed by their actions. Like many there, he wanted to thank them for saving the school.
“What they did was fantastic,” he said. “The ability to think under pressure and get the fire extinguishers and put out the fire was really, really awesome. It was really amazing.”
Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
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