Massillon second grader honored as Hometown Hero
Tuslaw Elementary student Max Brenner, 7, recognized by Mineral City Fire Department for saving a friend from a fire pit accident at Atwood Lake.
Deb Wine, EMS chief, from left, Kelsie Schrock, Katie Brenner, Jason Ely of the Mineral City Fire Department, and Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Friend. In front are Nolan Schrock, left, and Max Brenner.
Barb Limbacher
Max Brenner, 7, of Massillon, was honored as a Hometown Hero by the Mineral City Fire Department and received a plaque Sept. 7 at the fire station. Kevin Friend, assistant Mineral City fire chief and emergency medical technician, spoke about Max’s bravery and quick action to pull 6-year-old Nolan Schrock of Beach City from a fire pit.
The plaque read in part: “For heroic action displayed for saving the life of Nolan, who was a burn victim. That action taken that day could very well have saved his life.”
The incident occurred July 12, 2025, when the families of Luke and Kelsie Schrock and Andy and Katie Brenner gathered at Atwood Lake Park for camping, boating and picnicking.
“We just returned from getting ice cream and the boys, Nolan Schrock, 6, and Max Brenner, 7, were playing tag near a metal fire pit. We had roasted hot dogs several hours earlier, so the fire was still hot and had coals,” said Kelsie Schrock, Nolan’s mother.
“I backed up and tripped over a rock and fell backward into the fire,” Nolan said. “Max helped me.”
Max quickly pulled him from the fire.
“I was scared and ran away. I thought I was in trouble,” Max said.
“We quickly pulled off Nolan’s clothes, which were smoldering and melting. We poured water over him and tried to keep him calm,” Kelsie said.
When Nolan was lying on a cot before leaving for the hospital, he told Max, “Thank you so much for saving me.”
Nolan was transported to Akron Children’s Hospital by the Mineral Sandy Ambulance with Friend, Jason Ely, EMT, and Deb Wine, EMS chief, all assisting.
“I got to spend five days alone with my mom and dad without my sister, Nora, 3, and my brother, Beckett, 9 months,” Nolan said.
“Nolan had third-degree burns on both knees, his right lower back and right buttock. He had second-degree burns on his left hand and arm where he touched the metal on the fire pit,” Kelsie said. “Nolan had skin graft surgery on all the areas that were third-degree burns. He is doing fine.”
Max is a second grader at Tuslaw Elementary in Massillon, and Nolan is a first grader at Fairless Elementary. Max plans to hang the plaque in his room. He also has a brother, Austin, 11, and a sister, Clara, 5.
