Alexis McCormick of Castle Shannon Boulevard is experiencing the full circle of Mt. Lebanon’s fire safety program, from student to parent. Her story highlights the lasting impact of the program, which spans generations and shapes the lives of many families.

Alexis vividly remembers how the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department saved her life at age 5. It was a couple of days after Christmas when a candle sparked a fire in her childhood bedroom. The flames spread quickly, but her dog, Brutus, alerted her parents to call for help. Second-generation firefighter Kevin Maehling’s swift actions rescued her that day, leaving a lasting impression.

“Kevin helped save my life,” Alexis said. “I was outside in the freezing cold, and I remember him holding my hand. I’ve never forgotten that moment.” For Maehling, the experience underscores the impact of his work.

“One of the hardest parts of fire safety education is that you rarely see the results. But this was one of those rare occasions where I got to see the difference we made, not just in Alexis’ life, but in the next generation as well,” he said.

Maehling joined the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department as a volunteer in 1983 and became a career firefighter in 1990. He retired as deputy chief seven years ago. At a retirement party for a colleague about 30 years after the rescue, he reconnected with Alexis.

“She came up to me and introduced herself, and I was able to see her with her son. It was a powerful moment, a reminder that our actions can have a lasting impact,” he said.

For Alexis, the fire department’s program goes beyond fire safety; it is a connection to her past.
“That moment was so special. I got to thank him in front of my son, and he remembered everything,” she said.

Now, Alexis’ son, Cole, a second grader at Lincoln Elementary, participates in the same fire safety program that influenced his mom. He is learning crucial skills, like how to dial 911 and the importance of meeting points in an emergency.

“You should have a place to meet if there’s a fire, so if you get separated, you can find your family and make sure they’re safe,” Cole said.

During a recent field trip, Cole’s class visited the fire station to see the tools and equipment used by the department.

“I got to experience a firefighter going down the pole,” Cole said. “That was really cool!”
Cole and his classmates also witnessed a real emergency when the department received a fire call. “We got to see the firefighters get dressed quickly and head out to the fire,” he said.

Coincidentally, Maehling met his wife, Stacy, when he has giving lessons at Lincoln Elementary, where she has taught fourth grade for more than 20 years. A picture of the couple at a training session hangs on the wall of her classroom. She may even be Cole’s teacher one day.

As Mt. Lebanon’s fire safety program continues to educate and protect future generations, Alexis’ story remains a powerful reminder of the life-saving impact of early intervention and how one community’s commitment to fire safety shapes its residents, one generation at a time.

According to the department’s current fire safety educator, Lt. Kris Siegert, parent involvement has grown, with 11 parents helping with the programs this year.

“We are educating children on how they can take control over their own safety and the safety of their family … The bottom line is we go to fewer fires than other places have, and I think the prevention and education programs we have in place are a huge part of that,” he said.