On what was supposed to be a magical and memorable prom night, four students from Whitesboro High School in New York turned a moment of celebration into a powerful act of heroism. Instead of simply heading home after their prom, Aiden Kane, Morgan Randall, Donato Jellenichr, and Tyler Sodj found themselves in the midst of a life-threatening emergency — and they rose to the occasion with extraordinary bravery and compassion.
From Prom Night to a Heroic Mission
The night of May 17 was expected to be filled with laughter, dancing, and photos in glittering outfits for the juniors of Whitesboro High School. After leaving prom a bit early, the four friends made plans to grab some appetizers at One Genny in New Hartford before heading over to Donato’s house to change out of their formalwear. But fate had a different plan for them.
As they were driving through Marcy, Morgan Randall noticed flames flickering from a nearby garage. The teens quickly realized it wasn’t just a small fire but a rapidly growing blaze consuming a family’s garage. Without hesitation, they sprang into action.
“Everyone jumped out of the car,” recalled Aiden Kane. “Donato immediately called 911, Tyler ran towards the garage to check it out, and I ran up to the door and started pounding on it.” It was a decision made in seconds, driven not by deliberation but by instinct — the instinct to help others in danger.
In the video footage recorded by the teens, viewers can see Aiden pounding on the door of the burning home as flames rage in the background. Moments later, a young girl answers, and Kane yells, “Your house is on fire!” The urgency of the moment is clear in their voices, as screams of young children can be heard inside.
A Coordinated and Fearless Rescue
The teenagers didn’t act on impulse alone; their response was coordinated and calm despite the chaos. While Aiden worked to get the attention of those inside the home, Donato Jellenichr focused on alerting emergency services, and Tyler Sodj assessed the rapidly growing fire. Their actions were swift, purposeful, and remarkably mature for their age.
When the door opened, Kane didn’t waste a second. He escorted the children across the street to safety, where Morgan comforted them as they trembled from the trauma and shock. “I slammed and knocked on the door and there were two little girls and a dad,” Kane told WKTV. “I grabbed the girls, ran them across the street to where my girlfriend comforted them, because they were really upset.”
Tyler Sodj recalled how the fire sounded like gunshots popping, suggesting there may have been explosions within the garage. “Something clearly exploded and the fire got pushed out pretty far,” he said. “So if Aiden didn’t go up there and get those people out, I think that the fire could have spread.” The quick thinking and fearlessness of the group likely prevented what could have been a catastrophic loss of life.
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As the father emerged from the home to gather his children, the teens ensured that he was directed to safety and confirmed that no one else was inside. Every second mattered, and they made each one count.
Praised by Fire Officials and Community Alike
The story of their bravery quickly spread, capturing the attention of local news stations and even CNN. Interviews with Kane and Sodj on national television brought their heroism to a wider audience, but the humble students maintained that they “didn’t think twice” about what they did.
Maynard Fire Chief Jared Pearl praised the teens’ actions, emphasizing just how close the situation was to turning deadly. “If they didn’t do this, if they didn’t get everyone out and call 911, it may have been three to four minutes before we got there,” Pearl told the New York Post. “And by then, the house would have been fully involved.”
That narrow window — those three to four minutes — made all the difference. The students’ quick response allowed emergency services to arrive in time to prevent the fire from consuming the entire home. It’s a sobering reminder that sometimes, the right people in the right place at the right time can change everything.
Their high school and local community have lauded the students as heroes. But these teens have shown that heroism isn’t about recognition; it’s about doing the right thing when it counts. What began as a night of fun and celebration transformed into a life-saving mission — a moment of true courage that these young individuals will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
As for the family they saved, their gratitude must be beyond words. Thanks to the quick actions of four high school students, what could have been a devastating tragedy turned into a story of hope, community, and the extraordinary capabilities of young people when called upon in moments of crisis.
The world often sees teens through a critical lens, focusing on their flaws or missteps. But stories like these serve as a powerful reminder of the potential and promise that resides in our youth. On a night meant to celebrate themselves, these four teens instead placed others first — and became heroes in the truest sense of the word.