Otis man honored as Carnegie Hero for saving infant from 2001 trailer fire

OTIS – A local man credited with saving the life of a baby boy after he dashed into a burning trailer to get the infant has been rewarded by a national organization.

Ezra Kidder, 27, has been recognized by the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund for rescuing 5-month-old Dakota Alley from his burning and smoke-filled home in the summer of 2001. Kidder is one of 86 people nationwide honored by the nonprofit organization so far this year.

According to fund spokesman Jeffrey Dooley, Kidder is being given a bronze medal and $3,500 from the fund for saving Dakota’s life.

Kidder said Tuesday that he had received the reward money and put it to use.

“I already have [spent it],” Kidder said. “I bought a new car.” He has not yet received the medal, he said.

Kidder, a neighbor of the baby’s parents, was at home the morning of July 13, 2001, when fire broke out in the trailer. The infant’s mother, Christy Alley, and her two other children got out safely, but the baby was still inside. The mother went to Kidder’s house and pounded on the door, telling him her baby was in a room at the end of a hallway.

Kidder rushed barefoot into the trailer but was driven back outside by intense smoke, according to a written statement from the Carnegie Hero Fund. Kidder then ran into the home a second time.

“In the increasing heat and smoke that severely restricted visibility, Kidder found Dakota’s crib. He grasped Dakota, held him low, then ran back through the hall to the door and exited the mobile home to safety,” the statement said.

Joyce Wasson, Otis’ administrative assistant, said Tuesday that people in town are proud of Kidder.

“It takes a special young man to not even think of himself,” Wasson said. “Someone who is young like he is might not do something like that.”

Kidder, who is the father of a 3-week-old girl, said Tuesday he also had received commendations from the town of Otis and the American Legion. He said the recognition helps balance problems he has had stemming from a head injury suffered in 1997. While hiking with friends in July of that year, he said, a tree fell on him, causing him later to experience recurring seizures and blackouts.

“I didn’t think anything like this would happen,” Kidder said of the medal and financial reward. “It’s kind of overwhelming.”

Fund spokesman Dooley said the organization found out about Kidder from a clipping service that sends it articles about ordinary people who have made rescue attempts of other people. He said the success of the attempt is not the primary consideration for honoring the award recipients.

“It’s not so much an award for lifesaving activity as it is for life-risking activity” in the rescue attempt, Dooley said.