Scout honored for heroism

OREM, Utah — He didn't do it for the award, and he certainly didn't do it for the fame.But when he had to do it, he sure was prepared.When his home started to fill with smoke on Jan. 31, Orem Boy Scout Garrek Lott, 12, didn't think twice before heading straight for the crib of his sleeping baby sister."I actually didn't think about it very much," Garrek said.After getting his little sister and others out of the house, Garrek shut off the circuit breakers and called 911."I wasn't really scared," Garrek said. "Just kind of sad because I didn't want the house to burn."With Anna, almost 2, running around the church gymnasium Friday, big brother Garrek received the Heroism Award from the National Court of Honor of the Boy Scouts of America."I feel proud," Garrek said, glancing down at the shiny new medal hanging from the pocket of his uniform.The Heroism Award can be given by the National Court of Honor to Scouts or Scout leaders who demonstrate heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save life at minimum risk to self.On the day of the fire, Garrek was spending time with a friend at home when a neighbor knocked on the door after noticing smoke. As smoke filled the home and smoke alarms began sounding, Garrek jumped into action to get everyone out of the home safely. "I was thinking about getting (Anna) out of the house and getting everyone else out," Garrek said.Within minutes, part of the home was engulfed in flames.At the awards ceremony at the Timpview Stake Center, Garrek's father, Tim Lott, said he was confident the other assembled Scouts would have been just as prepared as Garrek was."No doubt in my mind that any of these Scouts in Garrek's troop would have done exactly the same thing," Lott said.The January fire started in a nearly finished 1,200-square-foot addition on the Lott family's home. The fire ruined the addition while causing $200,000 in damage.Almost three months to the date after the fire, the Lotts finally got to sleep in their home again Friday night — the very night Garrek received his award.