Herndon Middle School student Roberto Morales Castillo, second from left, saved his family and numerous other families from carbon monoxide poisoning the day of the blizzard in January.
Herndon Town Council and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue honored Herndon teenager Roberto Morales Castillo for heroism that saved the lives his family and up to 30 other families the day of the blizzard on Jan. 24, 2016.
“The Morales Castillo family was at home during the blizzard on Jan. 24 when the entire family became sick with headaches, vertigo and nausea,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel.
“Roberto knew something was wrong,” she said.
Roberto called 911 and building management.
When Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded, emergency personnel discovered deep snow was blocking the vents for the basement appliances which caused carbon monoxide to back into the apartment building.
“This is the silent killer. You can’t see it, you can’t smell it, you can’t see it.”
— Fire and Rescue Chief Richard Bowers
“This is the silent killer. You can’t see it, you can’t smell it, you can’t taste it,” said Fire and Rescue Chief Richard R. Bowers Jr.
“We ask everyone that may be listening to this that if you need to have your carbon monoxide detector checked by the fire and rescue department to please call the department and we will check it out.”
Bowers gave Roberto a citizen's life saving award.
The Town Council auditorium was packed with his family, fire personnel, and teachers from Herndon Middle School, including principal of the year Justine Klena, director of student services Karyn Niles and multilingual interpreter and parent liaison Paulina Hidalgo.
“The Town of Herndon is extremely proud of Roberto who because of his quick thinking and really heroic actions saved his family and many other families that evening,” said Merkel.
“Your initial care for your family until the arrival of the fire and rescue department allowed us to continue emergency care and transport your family to the hospital,” said Bowers. “You contributed to saving your family and more than 30 other families lives.”
Councilmember David Kirby gave Roberto a “thumbs up.”
Councilmember Steven Mitchell thanked Roberto in Spanish.
“A job very well done,” said Councilmember Jasbinder Singh.
“You really are a hero.”
— Lisa Merkel, mayor
“You really are a hero and I hope you all know how thankful all of us are,” said Merkel. “Thanks to Roberto, we have many happy families who are alive and well in Herndon.”
“It gives me chills to hear what you did,” said vice mayor Jennifer Baker. “I’m overwhelmed this evening. I’m so very glad you and your family are here tonight.”
“THE GOOD NEWS doesn’t end there,” said Merkel.
She honored Amanda Aste and her mother Olga Aste at the Council meeting on March 8.
Olga Aste had picked her daughter Amanda up from Herndon High School early on Jan. 8, a day Amanda wasn’t feeling well.
Driving on Wiehle Avenue near the Fairfax County Parkway, Amanda Aste saw her peer from Herndon High School walking down the side of the street, not dressed properly for the cold, rainy winter weather but clearly with school supplies.
“Hundreds, if not thousands of people, drove right past her,” said Officer Mike Murn.
Unbeknownst to the mother and daughter, the Herndon Police Department and Herndon School community were already searching for the student.
“This particular day, this child, a special needs student, was feeling very independent that day and wanted to go to school on her own,” said Murn.
Her sibling generally drove her to school, said the officer.
“She was going to go out the back door to the bus stop and ride the bus. She had ridden the bus before, knew where the stop was, knew the approximate time the bus arrived but got there late,” said Murn. “Still feeling very independent, she decided to walk to school.”
Amanda and her mother spotted her peer on Wiehle Avenue.
“She said, ‘Mom, this isn’t right. I know her,’” said the officer. “They stayed with her, they comforted her until we arrived.”
Murn said the temperatures that day hovered near 40 degrees.
“The student’s condition could have deteriorated if she had not been found,” said Merkel.
“This young lady deserved a huge amount of applause,” said Murn.
“So many times in my career, people have come up to me after an event or after the face, and said, ‘I didn’t think that was right, or something in my gut was wrong,’ or ‘I thought that was suspicious,’ but they didn't’ take the time to reach out to us,” said Chief Maggie DeBoard. “This was a simple incident, but it was a meaningful and impactful one.”
“Maybe other people will take the clue, and say, ‘Hey that’s what we should be doing if something doesn’t seem right.’ Often times, it isn’t,” she said.
“Thank you, Mandy, for that ‘Trust your gut,’” said Vice Mayor Baker and “for having a responsibility for fellow citizens and for looking out.”
“I love that we got to recognize two great citizens today.”
— Jennifer Baker, vice mayor
“I love that we got to recognize two great citizens today,” she said.