BOARDMAN Trustees honor boy who reported fire

The township contracted with the county prosecutor's office for legal counsel..
JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- In January, a 12-year-old township boy took steps that officials say prevented what could have been a disastrous fire.
Township trustees have honored his efforts with a proclamation, and the firefighters union gave the boy a $25 Southern Park Mall gift certificate.
The fire department's James McCreary said Andrew Stanton headed over to a friend's house on Woodrow Drive in the early afternoon of Jan. 24.
Smoke detector: When he got there, no one answered the door, but a smoke detector could be heard ringing inside.
The boy could smell smoke coming from behind the closed door. He continued to knock harder to wake anybody who might be in the house.
When knocking didn't work, he ran home and called 911.
Firefighters arrived a short time later to find the house empty, a pot burning on the stove and other things left in the oven.
Could have been worse: McCreary said the situation could have been a lot worse had Andrew not taken the initiative to alert the fire department.
"This could have turned out to be pretty bad. There was a pan left on the stove and some other things in the oven. This could have been a pretty decent kitchen fire," he said.
Firefighters were able to reach the fire before any serious damage had been done. Damage was estimated at $200. The home is valued at $60,000
"This proclamation was necessary because what he did was very heroic," said Trustee Elaine Mancini. "For a young man his age that was quite a responsible thing to do, and he is such a nice boy."
Legal counsel: Trustees also approved a one-year contract with the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office to act as the township's legal counsel at a cost of $50,000.
Township Administrator Curt Seditz said the township paid the prosecutor's office $40,000 annually the first two years.
Seditz said the fee increase is justified because of the volume of work.