Yukon girl proves you can be a hero at any age

YUKON, Okla. (KFOR) - A little girl from Yukon is proving you can be a hero at any age after the 7-year-old saved her neighbor's house from burning to the ground.

"I saw dark clouds moving fast in the sky," said first-grader Kynlee Dewitt. "It was really dark out, and it was stormy."

Early May storms created a dance of lightning in the sky above Kynlee's home in Yukon.

"I heard a big, loud - like thunder, basically, and I thought it hit our backyard, so I was checking. But then, I looked up at that house and I saw the smoke," Kynlee said.

A lightning strike had taken direct aim at her neighbor's house. Kynlee ran to get her mother, Amanda, who called 911.

"My mom tells me, 'If you see something, say something.'"

And it's a good thing she did! Her neighbors were not home, so had Kynlee not said something, flames could have spread to the entire house. But what is spreading—is word around town.

When Amanda's friend, Carla Vickers, heard the news, she nominated Kynlee for a $400 Pay It 4Ward award.

"I'm just proud of her because she's seven," Carla said. "I just think it's very brave of her, and she's such a sweet, kind little girl that I just feel like she deserves to be recognized."

First Fidelity Bank Senior Branch Manager Bobby Burger tagged along with our news crew to present the $400 to Kynlee.

"So, Kynlee, on behalf of First Fidelity Bank, I'm happy to give you $400," Bobby said as he handed over what might seem like a fortune to any child.

"Thank you," Kynlee said, surprised.

News 4's Heather Holeman asked, "What do you think of that?"

"Good," she said.

"Have you ever had $400 before?" Heather asked.

"No," she replied.

"What are you going to do with all your money now?" Heather asked.

Kynlee instantly knew the answer.

"Save it," she said.

"You did a great thing," Heather told her. "Thank you for being a great Oklahoman!"

And with a big smile on her face, complete with a dimple, Kynlee replied, "You're welcome!"