(Erath County, TX)  – A 15-year-old autistic boy is being credited with saving his Erath County home from an approaching grass fire.

The Stephenville Empire Tribune reports Erath County sheriff’s deputy Brittany Williams woke up from a nap at her home on CR 434 to someone banging on her front door, alerting her to the fact that a grass fire was heading toward her property.  Williams ran outside and was surprised to find her 15-year-old autistic son Merritt Ragsdale throwing buckets of water on the fire and spraying down the side of the trailer house with a water hose.

Williams said the fire was less than eight inches away from their house.  Because of Ragsdale’s bravery, Williams rewarded her son with his favorite meal that night – chili dogs.