‘I didn’t think; I just did it,’ says man who rescued kids in fire

By Sean Barron

Joel Imler, 22, was released Thursday from a burn center after his daring Oct. 16 heroics.

YOUNGSTOWN — Listeners of the weekly “Lamont & the 2 White Guys” show on JAMZ 101.9 are accustomed to hearing offbeat humor, jokes and plenty of hip-hop music.

For a portion of their four-hour show Saturday, however, clowning and bantering took a back seat.

That’s because one of the guests was 22-year-old Joel Imler, who was released Thursday from the burn center at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron after having saved the lives of four children under age 5.

Imler was baby-sitting the children, 1-year-old twins Khalil and Khinya Ollie, and their siblings Trodney Ollie, 2, and Krisean Ollie, 4, who were on the second floor of a home at 569 Willis Ave. on Youngstown’s South Side when the Oct. 16 fire erupted on the first floor, destroying the home.

Accompanying Imler on the show was the children’s father, T. Rodney Ollie, a close friend of Imler‘s.

“I didn’t think; I just did it,” Imler said, referring to how he carried the four kids through the flames to safety. “It’s the only thing I would have thought to do.”

As a result, he suffered severe burns on various parts of his body; Khinya suffered a burn to her thigh, but was released from St. Elizabeth Health Center the same day.

Imler, who was watching the youngsters while their father was out, recalled going to the basement to get a diaper and a washcloth from the dryer. When he came upstairs a few minutes later, the fire had already started. That meant he had to run through the flames twice — once to rescue the children on the second floor and the second time to get himself and the kids out .

“Being called a hero feels good, but I don’t see myself as a hero. Me and the kids’ dad are like brothers,” he said before breaking down.

The children’s father, however, doesn’t exactly share his friend’s assessment.

“I want the world to know how appreciative we are for his actions,” Ollie said. “He saved my kids’ lives, and we’re forever indebted to him.”

Imler was released from the hospital sooner than expected and required no skin grafts. He has a follow-up doctor’s appointment Monday, he said.

“My recovery is good. I’m taking it day by day,” he added.

Ollie said that Oct. 16 was a normal day until he “beat the fire engines to the fire.” Initially, he said, he was under the impression that Imler and his kids were trapped inside.

“I don’t care about the loss of possessions. I’m just grateful the kids and Joel are alive,” he said, adding that he and the children have been staying with various friends and family members since the blaze.

Ollie thanked Mount Calvary and Third Baptist churches, Catholic Charities of Youngstown and the community for their help. He also praised Gotta Husle Entertainment for its support.

Ollie and Imler signed to the record label as a hip-hop artist and R&B singer, respectively.

Ollie and his kids lost most of their possessions in the fire and are accepting monetary, clothing and other donations. Money and items can be dropped off at the radio station, 20 W. Federal St., during regular business hours.

Donations also will be accepted during the Lucky Penny Scorpio Celebration birthday party, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Stambaugh Auditorium.

Penny is a disc jockey at JAMZ 101.9.