The Fire Department of North Versailles honored a 5-year-old boy, Christopher Portis, who helped save his mother's life last month by calling 911; as well as, the fire prevention officer, Mark Frederick, who taught Christopher what to do in an emergency last September during a fire prevention session at Brightside Academy. Christopher was at home with his mother when she began having a seizure and fell, so Christopher called 911. His mother was transported to a local hospital and Christopher was taken to the North Versailles Police Department to wait for a relative to pick him up. While at the police station, Christopher noticed F.D.N.V. firefighter Mark Frederick at his job as an emergency dispatcher for the North Versailles Police Department. "He walked in and said, 'I know you. You taught me fire prevention at my school," Frederick said. Mark Frederick teaches fire prevention to students in the East Allegheny schools and preschools within North Versailles Township. According to F.D.N.V. Chief Jeff McNeill, "We're very proud of Mark for doing this for over 15 years for the Fire Department of North Versailles" and continued to say, "He's done a great job". Christopher Portis and Mark Frederick received plaques for their heroism which were presented by Chief Jeff McNeill, Deputy Chief Mike Volpe, President Michael Logan, and Vice-President Greg Seman. Also, Christopher was given a fire department t-shirt and a ride in the department's rescue engine. The McKeesport Daily News published an article, by Stacy Lee, on Thursday, March 14, 2013.