CIS hero honored for actions during apartment fire

CIS’ Cindy Rojas is seen emerging from the scene of an apartment fire with a child in her arms (Photo via SBISD)

When Communities In Schools of Houston Student Support Specialist Cindy Rojas was notified of smoke coming from an apartment complex near her school, she did what came instinctively: went to the rescue. She was honored for her heroic efforts this week.

Rojas was assembling bags of food for families on March 4 at Hollibrook Elementary School in Spring Branch Independent School District when a teacher said he saw smoke coming from the apartments next to the school. Rojas dropped what she was doing and dashed over to help.

“Before we could say anything, she crossed the fence and disappeared behind the fire truck,” Hollibrook Elementary Principal Anabel Taylor said.

Multiple units were on fire when Rojas arrived. In one of the homes was an eighth-grade girl, who was learning virtually, and her younger sibling. Rojas rushed to get the crying student and her little sister to safety. The student had grabbed her school laptop out of the burning apartment and apologized for not thinking to grab the charger.

According to the Houston Fire Department, firefighters from eight stations responded to the blaze on Hollister Road, which caused about $150,000 in damage and destroyed multiple units. While smoke was still settling, Rojas went to work helping displaced families find shelter and connecting them with other resources, many donated by caring teachers and staff on campus.

“This is just one example of what Cindy means to our community. She knows our families and their needs. She makes things happen for our students and families,” Taylor told the school board. “Hollibrook Elementary is honored to have her as our CIS support … she has been our superhero for years.”

Spring Branch ISD formally recognized and thanked Rojas at the district’s board meeting Monday. See the story via ABC13 Houston.