7-year-old wakes family up, helps save them during house fire
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - Ohio Township Fire Department officials say a family involved in a house fire has their daughter to thank for helping them get out safely.
According to a press release, the Ohio Township Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire in 2600 block of Bell Road just after 6 a.m. Friday.
Officials say the first arriving crews found a home with smoke coming from the residence.
The family has their daughter to thank for getting out of the house so quickly.
“This morning, it was about 6 a.m.,” said Marissa West. “Our daughters came into our room to have some morning cuddles.”
But it’s what 7-year-old Evelyn said to her parents that shot them out of bed.
“I smell something weird,” Evelyn said, “and I see things that look like smoke, and my mom wakes up and says, ‘smoke!’”
“We kind of shot up out of bed and my husband ran out,” Marissa said. “I said why does it smell like smoke in here, he said there’s a fire.”
A fire had broken out in the laundry room. Marissa says if it wasn’t for Evelyn and her other daughter Eloise waking up so early, things could have been much worse.
“Words cannot describe it,” Marissa said. “Both our girls are our little heroes.”
Marissa says firefighters were on scene within minutes. It was their quick action that helped the fire from spreading.
But first responders say another thing saved the families home from completely going up in flames.
“With the door we had shut between our laundry room and our kitchen, it saved our lives essentially,” Marissa said. “They said if that door had been open we’d be in a completely different situation right now.”
A door shielding the rest of the house, and an early wake up from two young girls, potentially saving the family from a much worse outcome.
“She is a quick thinker,” Marissa said about her daughter Evelyn. “She is smart, she is bright and she’s a hero.”
And for Evelyn, hearing her mom call her a hero is reward enough.
“It makes me feel really special,” Evelyn said.
Family says the fire was contained to the laundry room. Now they’re waiting on insurance to come through to figure out their next steps.
The fire is under investigation.
Here is a look at the scene below:
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