HOMETOWN HEROES … Hunter Smith, Max Burton, Bryce Welling, and Camden Bukowski were the first to notice the smoke from the Rieman’s family home.
PHOTOS PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
FUELED FIRE … The attic quickly caught fire as neighbors made the initial 911 call.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
On the early morning of September 27, 2025, an electrical fire erupted at 4:30 a.m. in the home of Steve and Carol Reiman of Bryan, Ohio, while the couple was visiting out of state.
Though the Riemans had lived in the house for more than 20 years, the blaze rendered the structure uninhabitable, forcing them to relocate while rebuilding efforts were underway.
The first alert came from a Ring Camera system, which triggered alarms and awakened the Riemans remotely.
What followed in the pre-dawn hours has become a powerful story of community heroism in Bryan. Four teenagers, Hunter Smith, Max Burton, Bryce Welling, and Camden Bukowski, were hanging out at a nearby friend’s house behind the Rieman’s property. They smelled the smoke immediately and awakened Hunter’s parents, Natalie and Alex Smith.
While waiting for the firefighters to arrive, the teenagers wasted no time assessing the scene. Unaware that the older couple was out of state, they took the time to draw attention to the fire slowly building inside.
By smashing windows in the basement and sunroom, the boys called for Mrs. Rieman, anxiously trying to wake up anyone potentially sleeping inside.
“They were picking up whatever they could find to throw,” mentioned Michelle Mischley, daughter of the Riemans.
“They thought of things I wouldn’t have thought of. The boys were so determined, so brave, but you could tell they were getting scared. Despite their fear, they kept trying to get my parents out, not caring about their safety.”
Mischley came to the scene later on in the morning and reviewed the Zoom Camera footage that captured events as they unfolded. More than 40 distinct Ring Camera videos and additional footage from neighbors document the entire sequence.
“It was humbling to see,” she said. “Watching it with my mom, knowing the panic they felt, it made my heart ache. I am so thankful for how strong the people were mentally and physically.”
As minutes felt like hours, the neighbors quickly called 911 at 4:49 a.m., mere minutes before flames broke through the attic.
Before local fire crews could arrive, longtime part-time firefighter Kevin Temple, along with his street-cleaning partner Richard Shaw, were already on site.
Without protective gear, Temple forced his way in through a smoke-filled home, opened interior doors to accelerate the response, and searched for attic space where fire threatened the roof directly.
Bryan’s Fire Department, joined by neighboring crews under Fire Chief Doug Pool, then executed a rooftop attack by battling flames and working to salvage interior contents from water damage and collapse risk.
“If it would have been 15 or 20 minutes later, the house would have been broken through. Thanks to Kevin, the structure and the car were saved,” Mischley affirmed.
“The Bryan FD took the time on both floors to push the furniture over and try to save it,” she explains. “They did things that felt above and beyond. I was just grateful they put the fire out, but saving the furniture? It was so thoughtful of them.”
“That’s who they are. They put their lives together for a complete stranger,” she said.
Community members have rallied to ensure the family will always have a place to stay in Bryan. The rebuilding process may take up to a year before the home is restored; until then, the Riemans have been embraced by their hometown.
“So many people have stopped by,” Mischley continued. “All of the neighbors have been supportive. Physically, there isn’t much to do, but emotionally, is where they need the help.”
“They’re my heroes. I hope they are an inspiration for everyone to see the kind of good and selflessness. I hope others see the selflessness they demonstrated that morning.
“I could never say thank you enough. If my parents had been home, I don’t think I could’ve been in more awe of them than I am now, which was even more proud as I watched the videos,” said Mischley.
For the Riemans, and for the teenagers whose quick thinking helped save their home, the memory of that morning will endure – along with the gratitude of a town united in support.