A Twiggs County family lost their home in a fire, but a 6-year-old’s quick response helped his mother and younger sibling escape safely.
A Twiggs County family of nine is working to rebuild after a house fire on Wednesday that displaced them from their home, but family members say the outcome could have been far worse without the actions of a 6-year-old boy.
Firefighters arrived shortly after noon and spent about 45 minutes bringing the fire under control, according to the family and local officials. Investigators are still working to determine what caused the fire.

Harley Clance was home from school because of a doctor’s appointment when he noticed smoke inside the family’s living room.
“When there was smoke in the living room, I tell mommy, and then there was fire, then the fire alarm went off,” Harley said.
His mother, Summer Clance, was inside with Harley and his younger sibling, Whitley, when the fire began. Harley said he called 911 and helped keep Whitley calm and away from the burning home.
“I talked to the 911 lady,” Harley said. “I kept Whitley happy and away from the house.”
Summer Clance, who is an amputee and uses a wheelchair, was able to get her children outside. Her father, Ricky Worsham, said her efforts to escape became more difficult as the fire spread.
“She was able to get them two, the two little ones, out,” Worsham said. “Then she couldn’t get down the hallway because the wheelchair was too big, and she actually had to get out of the wheelchair and crawl out the front door.”

The family is now staying with relatives as they determine their next steps. Worsham said the Red Cross had already contacted the family about immediate assistance.
Twiggs County Fire Chief Shaun Hart praised the family’s response and encouraged other residents to prepare for fires at home.
“Just be careful in your home,” Hart said. “Make sure you’ve got working smoke detectors and make sure you practice a fire escape plan in your home.”
The Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging community members to support the Clance family through donations. Donny’s Propane in Bolingbroke has also offered its business as a donation drop-off location for the family.