In a moment of courage and urgency, a Twinsburg firefighter braved a smoke-filled basement to pull an 8-month-old boy from a burning home on Aug. 17.

According to Archive, the child was saved within 12 minutes of the initial 911 call thanks to a coordinated rescue plan and the quick actions of firefighter Joshua Jarzab and his crew.

The fire broke out at a residence on Simsbury Drive just after noon, prompting a 911 call at approximately 12:20 p.m. Twinsburg police officers were the first to arrive but were unable to reach the basement due to overwhelming smoke. Firefighters arrived soon after and immediately prepared for the high-risk rescue.

Firefighters employ a strategy to beat the odds

Joshua Jarzab, one of the responding firefighters, described how his team used a specific technique known as VEIS — Vent, Enter, Isolate, and Search — to maximize their chances of finding the baby quickly. Under this plan, one firefighter carried a water extinguisher, another handled tools, and Jarzab used a thermal imaging camera to detect heat sources.

“As soon as we parked the truck, we sprinted to the front door and started masking up right away,” Jarzab recalled. Challenged by the intense fire and limited visibility, the team moved deliberately through the basement, repelling flames just enough to allow their search to continue.

While combing through the dark and dangerous space, the team opened several doors. Behind the third, Jarzab spotted the infant inside a crib. He immediately shut the door to keep the room as smoke-free as possible and knelt beside the child to assess his condition.

Infant’s cries signal hope in a dire moment

“When we were on the floor, that's when he started crying,” Jarzab said, describing a critical moment of relief. The baby’s crying indicated that he was conscious and responsive, but leaving the room would still pose a dangerous risk of smoke inhalation.

Jarzab placed his coat over the baby's face before rushing back through the burning basement. Firefighters lit the path toward the staircase to help Jarzab navigate back upstairs and outside to safety. Once outside, he handed the baby off to emergency medical staff.

Twinsburg fire officials confirmed the child was transported to UH Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood and was discharged later that day. The fire, which caused over $90,000 in damage, remains under investigation by authorities.

Reflections follow life-saving mission

Reflecting on the dramatic rescue, Jarzab said he had previously saved pets from house fires but had never rescued a child under such extreme conditions. “I give all glory to God – that child is going to have a chance at life now,” he said.

The firefighter was especially grateful for the teamwork that made the rescue possible. “I’m so grateful that I had the team with me that I did,” he said, citing fellow firefighters Nathan Rowan, Laron Mainor, and the truck driver who quickly got them to the scene.

“When I pulled the kid out, I walked back to the front door and looked back, and I just kind of realized what we did,” he said. “It was a very good feeling.”

A closed door may have saved the baby's life

Beyond the coordinated rescue effort, Jarzab credited a specific element of fire safety with buying rescuers valuable time. The baby’s bedroom door had been closed, which prevented smoke from rushing in. That allowed firefighters a clearer path to complete the daring recovery.

“When you are going to bed, keep the door closed,” Jarzab advised. “Realistically, that's all you might need is just an extra minute, a minute or two that could make all the difference.”

He underscored that in many situations, every second can be the difference between life and tragedy. The team’s rapid response and execution, combined with that small safety measure, helped avoid a more tragic outcome.

Looking back, Jarzab described the event as a pivotal moment in his firefighting career. “It’s amazing how we were all pieces of this puzzle,” he said. “God used all of us as tools to save this child's life.”