Man Climbs to Apartment Ledge to Rescue Family from Fire.
PARIS, France—In an incredible act of bravery, Paris resident Fousseynou Cissé risked his own life to save two families from a raging apartment fire in his building. After he had evacuated the burning building, he learned from a neighbor that two families remained trapped on the upper levels. He quickly sprang into action to save them.
December 16, 2025 by Cathy Stack
When the fire erupted on July 6, 2025, flames and thick smoke quickly engulfed the second floor of the residential building, blocking any escape route for those on the upper floors. The frantic, trapped residents began to panic as the threat escalated.
The families with young children sought refuge together in one apartment until the fire department could reach them. As the apartment filled with intense, toxic smoke, the two mothers and their children found it difficult to breathe. They opened the windows for relief and screamed for help.
Fousseynou, a 39-year-old school caretaker had just returned home from work when he heard the fire alarm blaring in his apartment building, and he quickly evacuated his wife and child. A neighbor then informed him that two families had not been able to escape through the flames and smoke.
Without hesitation, Fousseynou ran back into the building to reach the 6th-floor apartment adjacent to the trapped families. He rushed to open the window and was shocked to see smoke blowing out of the window next door and two women crying for help.
Fousseynou climbed onto the building’s narrow ledge, 30 feet above ground, to reach the women. He instructed the two mothers to pass him their children: two babies, ages 5 months and 15 months; and two older children, ages 9 and 11. One by one, he guided the women to join their children in the relative safety of the neighboring apartment.
The fire department arrived on scene shortly afterward to extinguish the fire and escort the trapped residents to safety. Emergency responders took residents to the hospital to receive treatment for smoke inhalation. The fire destroyed the apartment where the flames originated, but the blaze resulted in no fatalities. The fire department continues to investigate the cause.
Residents of a nearby building caught Fousseynou’s incredible bravery on video, and TV news stations broadcast the harrowing moments internationally. People from around the world have hailed him as a hero for his selflessness and quick actions.
“I am moved and honored. I didn't expect to be called a hero; I'm just an ordinary person,” he said.
The Paris police department awarded Fousseynou the Gold Medal for Courage and Devotion. French President Emmanuel Macron personally congratulated him. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, also honored him with the Medal of the City of Paris.
The Foundation for a Better Life and PassItOn believe that Fousseynou Cissé showed true heroism in the face of real and imminent danger. His courageous action is a powerful example of the value of bravery. It is also a powerful reminder of the impact that the courageous actions of one individual can have in saving the lives of others.
