MILWAUKEE - There’s no shortage of heroes in the neighborhood around 22nd and Layton. Many residents are being praised for assisting in the rescue of a family of three from a burning van.

The incredible rescue was caught on tape by neighbor Jerry Lepkowski. In the video, none put their lives on the line as much as off-duty Milwaukee firefighters John and Joel Rechlitz. The brothers went into the burning van to pull the 4-year-old boy to safety.
 
The brothers did their first joint Milwaukee interview with TODAY’S TMJ4’s Diane Pathieu.
 
“Time seemed to stand still in a situation like that, and things can’t happen fast enough. We knew the child had to be removed immediately,” said John Rechlitz.
 
The brothers say what they did was part of the job. But they had no gear, no backup, and no protection from the heat.
 
The mother and baby were quickly removed from the van. But a 4-year old boy was still buckled into a booster seat. He had already been burned badly.
 
“I saw him and I saw my son’s face. It was very emotional,” said Joel Rechlitz.
 
A neighbor provided a knife and they cut the boy free. John brought him out of the van. John, Joel, and the young boy had serious burns. John held the boy while Joel doused him with water from a hose.
 
The firefighters were also assisted by off-duty Milwaukee Police Lieutenant Mark Wroblewski.
 
“This is truly a team effort, and it shows the spirit of the citizens of the City of Milwaukee,” Lt. Wroblewski said.
 
On Monday, the Rechlitz brothers and Wroblewski were honored by the Mayor, the Fire Department, and the Police Department for their actions.
 
“We took an oath as firefighters. A duty to act, a willingness to serve, and that’s what we were doing. Regardless if we were on duty or off duty,” John Rechlitz said.
 
The 4-year-old boy injured was identified as David Harper. He is listed in critical condition at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
 
Milwaukee Police say the family is from Tennessee. They were in Milwaukee because they are operating a booth at the Waukesha County Fair. Police believe the mother may have been sleep deprived and fell asleep at the wheel, leading to the crash.