A Green Country man is being hailed as a hero by his family and friends tonight.
They credit him for saving several people at an apartment fire in Okmulgee this weekend. Four units were destroyed and everyone escaped without injury.
But he almost wasn't around to be a hero ... more now on his journey.
"It's just amazing that everyone got out safe and no one was hurt. I'm just real proud of him."
To Sherry Griffin her son Brian Reeves is elevated to hero status. This weekend he risked his own life to save others in an apartment fire.
"This is my apartment right here, looked outside whole garage engulfed in flames," says Brian Reeves.
Reeves had been asleep, but the fire got him moving. Once he got his family out, he knocked on doors and started helping his neighbors.
"There were two kids in the back window, in this back room, and the windows have been busted out and the fire was coming in."
Once everyone was safe and accounted for Reeves went back in.
"It was really cold... I came back into my apartment, into this burning building in this room right here, and I got a blanket for the baby because it was cold."
Now... as Reeves looks back on the fire, he can't help but think of the man he used to be.
"I'm surprised with myself. Four years ago I wouldn't have even knocked on doors I would have walked outside and watched it burn."
So what changed? It was this standoff in 2007. reeves was at a crossroads and in the cross hairs of Tulsa police. An hours long standoff almost ended his life.
"There was a sniper, I told him I was going to count to three and start shooting. the sniper said pray first, because he was going to shoot on two. I prayed and the gun got so heavy, I couldn't pick it up no more. It was a little bitty ol' gun. I gave up and that was the best decision I've ever made. If I hadn't given up, two kids would have gotten hurt tonight."
Reeves went to prison for aggravated assault, but came out a changed man.
"You gotta treat others like you want to be treated or it's going to be a terrible place."
He credits, God, counseling and his church for teaching him core values like love
"The kids are a good reason to risk my life and I would risk my life for the kids again."
Bravery aside, firefighters say Reeves could have been seriously injured by re-entering the apartment.
They stress that it's never a good idea to go back inside burning building.
