A 10-year-old boy from Truro, N.S., was recognized at a Halifax fire department Sunday for his selfless act of generosity.

Nash Reid-Bancroft took it upon himself to shovel out his street's fire hydrants through the Adopt a Hydrant program.

“My mom told me about adopting a fire hydrant and if we didn’t do it, it would take a while for the firemen to shovel it out and get the water they need to put out fires and save people,” said Nash.

His efforts were noticed online by engineer firefighter Jeff Brown, who invited him down for a tour to say thanks.

“For us, that two or three minutes to shovel a hydrant out is all the difference in the world,” said Brown. “It’s a difference between a pot on a stove and a kitchen fire.”

Nash got to see the old and new fire trucks. Plus, push a few buttons. Before long, Nash became the tour guide.

“You're a sponge, man,” Brown told Nash. “You absorb everything.”

And like a real firefighter, he sat down to a hearty breakfast with the crew. All he had to do for the special reward was put his back into it.

“I think that makes him a pretty special hero and he deserves to be treated appropriately,” said Brown.

Adopting a fire hydrant isn't Nash's only good deed. He also raises money for UNICEF and his local homeless shelter.

“Sometimes the world feels like a really big place and it’s hard to know how you can bring about positive change in the world but he finds ways to do it and its amazing watching people recognize him for it,” said Jelene Reid, Nash’s mother.

Nash hopes his good deed will inspire others to do the same

“I just want to say, it’s not that hard.”

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kelly Linehan.