COEUR d'ALENE — Five-year-old Everest Thomson was instrumental in helping his neighbors stop a brush fire before it spread to houses. 

The young boy's efforts were recognized with a Citizen's Award at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Capt. Dylan Clark said Everest "demonstrated expectational responsibility beyond his years." 

"His prompt response played a vital role in ensuring the situation was addressed quickly," he said.

What started as a quiet Monday morning April 20 at the Johnson home quickly turned into a moment of heroics for Everest and his mother, Allison.

Allison was reading her Bible at the kitchen table when Everest noticed smoke rising outside. 

"He walked out on the deck for a minute and saw that there was a fire," said Allison. "He came back in and said, 'Mama there's a tree on fire.'" 

Stepping onto the deck, Allison saw her neighbor's hedge row and fence engulfed in flames. The Thomsons' and the neighbors' houses sit close to the fence line, and the situation was escalating quickly. 

The Thomsons called to their neighbors, who urged them to call 911. With assistance from other neighbors, the Thomsons scrambled to connect garden hoses and worked together to douse the flames. 

By the time the fire department had arrived, the group had the fire largely under control. Firefighters still soaked the area thoroughly to eliminate hot spots.

The Thomsons' quick response prevented any significant damage and potential injury. Everest, who has just finished kindergarten and will turn 6 in July, played a key role in spotting the danger early and alerting others. 

According to Allison, the incident, while stressful, has formed into something positive. 

"We felt like we were divinely protected and it brought us all closer together as neighbors and worked out to be a neat thing," she said. 

Allison was surprised to learn her son was being honored. 

"It was extremely unexpected but very sweet," she said. "We love Coeur d'Alene so much, and it's very much a reflection of the community spirit here that we love.

The neighbors honored Allison and Everest with a basket of huckleberry muffins, to which they responded by giving their neighbors a batch of s'mores cookies. 

"When life gives you lemons, we make lemonade. In this case, when life gives you fire, you make s'mores," Allison said.

Everest, who dreams of becoming a professional Lego builder and loves catching bugs in his yard, remains humble about his role in the situation. 

"We just did what we're supposed to do," said Allison proudly. 

    A photo of the fire along the Thomson's property line from April 20.