WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsSomeone You Should Know: Jake Smith

MADISON (WKOW) -- WKOW partnered with the American Red Cross and Tweedee Productions to honor people who have made a difference in our communities. They are this year's Red Cross Real Heroes. We honor a man who put his sister's life before his own. Jake Smith is 'Someone You Should Know. '

Today, it's hard to tell that this was the site of a life changing and life threatening event.

"There's a fire," said Jake. "There's a fire."

Jake Smith woke to stifling smoke and saw growing flames coming from the kitchen. He started pounding on doors and yelling to get his housemates out safely.

"I went to my sister's room which is right next to the kitchen and I pounded on the door and I thought I heard her say OK. So, I ran upstairs. Got downstairs and all of a sudden, there's no Nicole outside. So what do we do?" said Jake.

Both Jake and his best friend Jesse Olson tried to go back inside to get her out, but it was too hot. That's when Jake ran to the back of the house and tried to get to Nicole's window - which used to be right about there, 12 feet above the ground.

"I couldn't get high enough," said Jake. "So, Jesse is behind me and he hoists me up."

"I just stepped him up, he got a leg up," said Jesse. "I hoisted him, he grabbed and pulled. I basically was holding him like this. He was trying to break it. I was like, "C'mon man you have to."

"My body took over," said Jake. "I like to say God came in my body and just did things for me because I don't think I could break through a window right now if I tried. I went through 2 panes of glass in that punch. Once I was inside the room, that was, I'm telling you that's a crazy sight, seeing your sister, squirming on the floor with her hair on fire, and all you can think of is "If we don't get out of here within the next 10 seconds, we're both dead.

Jake says, at first, his sister thought he was a burglar and ran to the door to escape. When she opened it fire burst in.

"So she's fighting me," said Jake. "And her hair's on fire, so I put her hair out. I'm just like, I don't care what she thinks of me at this point. Drag her over to the window, and she's like, "No, I'm not jumping!"

"I looked down and I said, there's no way I'm gonna jump," said Nicole.

"She was hitting me," said Jake. "She had her arms like this (holds arms straight out to sides), I grabbed both her arms, I shoved them through, I grabbed her ankles and threw her out. And I said, I don't care if she breaks an arm or something, I'd rather have that than severe burns."

Fortunately, Jesse was still right below the window.

"She comes to the window," said Jesse. "I'm like, Jump! Jump! She's like, No, no! I was like Yes, yes! Jake shoves her; I catch her. Before I could even put her down, Jake's out the window."

"And I'm like, I can't wait for him to catch me," said Jake. "So I jump out, and I try to catch the post, but I couldn't grab it, so I just belly flopped onto the concrete about 15 feet below. And there's broken glass and everything down there, but I got one little cut on my pinky. Nicole got a cut on her belly, and I think that's about it."

With everybody out safely, all they could do was stand in the cold night air and watch as the house burned. In a matter of minutes firefighters, the Red Cross and others were there to help.

"Our neighbors, they were overwhelmingly kind. It was unbelievable," said Jake.

The house is rebuilt now. And, Jake, Jesse and Nicole have moved on with their lives.

"Everyday it seems like she thanks me," said Jake. "Whenever we talk about it, she gets all emotional.

This Good Samaritan humbly says anyone would have done the same thing. And he's learned an important life lesson along the way.

"It's taught me nothing's impossible," said Jake. "If you put your mind to it, anything can happen."