Brandon Rorer

Brandon Rorer rescued Silas Rorer from burning, Spring Hill, Tennessee, August 25, 2025. Silas, 7, was standing near the doorway of his second-floor bedroom after a fire that started on the back deck of his family’s home began to spread into the first and second floors, filling the house with thick, black smoke. Silas’ father, Rorer, 36, treasury analyst, had re-entered the home on the basement level after attempting to extinguish the fire and was told that Silas had not come downstairs with his mother and sister. Rorer ran up two flights of stairs, calling out to Silas and reaching his arms out in front of him as he attempted to follow the sound of his son’s voice. Rorer was forced back down to the first floor due to difficulty breathing from the smoke and heat. Rorer ran up the stairs and attempted to find Silas three more times, and on his fourth and final attempt, he felt Silas with his hand, picked him up and put him underneath his arm, and ran back down the two flights of stairs, exiting the home through the garage. Silas was hospitalized for two days and treated for minor burns on his face, ear, and arm, as well as smoke inhalation injuries; he recovered. Rorer was taken to the hospital in critical condition, suffering second-degree thermal burns on his head, chest, and left upper arm, as well as a serious inhalation injury. He was hospitalized for three weeks and, almost a year later, was still recovering.

2025-0000318-10575