Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sleepy Eye residents from left, Lucas Heiderscheidt, Bransten (Rehbein) Weber and Max Heiderscheidt receive Outstanding Citizenship Awards from Sleepy Eye Police Chief Matt Andres Tuesday. Andres said the three individuals were cited for selfless acts and positive impact on the lives of others in the May 8 house fire that took the life of Katie Rehbein.

SLEEPY EYE — Two young Sleepy Eye men and an 11-year-old boy were honored at a Sleepy Eye City Council meeting Tuesday for their lifesaving efforts during a May 8 house fire.

Brothers Max and Lucas Heiderscheidt and Bransten Rehbein-Weber received Outstanding Citizenship Awards from Police Chief Matt Andres in recognition of selfless acts and positive impact on the lives of others by the community of Sleepy Eye.

“We’re here to honor the efforts of Max and Lucas Heiderscheidt and Bransten Rehbein-Weber,” said Andres. “This spring, their efforts at the Rehbein house fire went above and beyond what could be expected at such an horrific event. With training and experience, first responders are expected to respond to these incidents.

“These three bravely responded to the situation with no training or protective equipment. Ultimately, there was a tragic outcome but it doesn’t take away from the brave actions of Bransten, Max and Lucas. I want to thank you gentlemen for everything you did that day to make our city and everything around us safe that day,” said Andres.

Lucas Heiderscheidt spoke briefly about dealing with the fire last May.

“There were small kids in the backyard when we got there after seeing the smoke. The kids were terrified knowing there were people inside. I think most people would do the same thing if they saw those children,” said Lucas Heiderscheidt.

Katie Havemeier, the aunt of Bransten, told The Journal Wednesday that he and the Heiderscheidts, who passed by, saw children in the yard and smoke coming from the house on Third Avenue N.E., and stopped there. The three of them saved the life of three year old Gabriel Rehbein and Mindi Rehbein.

“That morning of the fire, Bransten went outside to meet the bus. He looked back at the house and noticed smoke coming out of the windows. He ran back into the house and heard his mother, Katie Rehbein yelling for someone to grab three-year-old Gabriel,” said Havemeier. “Bransten met Katie on a stairway and carried Gabriel to the backdoor where he met the Heiderscheidts who helped Bransten and Gabriel get out of the house. We’ve very grateful.”

The house fire took the life of 29-year-old Katie Rehbein, who had burns on 75% of her body.

The home was destroyed in the fire.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshall ruled out the possibility of foul play in the fire. A call to the Minnesota State Fire Marshall’s Office about the fire cause was not returned Wednesday.