Stories of brave little children displaying a strong presence of mind never fail to impress me. For instance, a 7-year-old heroic boy went back into his burning home to save his baby sister. In another recent incident, an 8-year-old girl saved her 2 younger brothers from an apartment fire in a very “innovative” way.
On Wednesday night, a fire broke out in the 3rd-floor apartment in the 6100 block of Wabash Avenue in Chicago. An 8-year-old girl along with her 2 younger brothers, aged 2 and 4 were stuck inside. She then made a decision to throw a mattress out of the window in order to save herself and her brothers, The Chicago Sun Times reports.
6147 Wabash apartment fire . The children a girl age ten and two boys 4 and 2 were inside. The girl threw a mattress from third floor window and jumped. 4 year old rescued at window by ladder. CFD also got 2 year old from inside all taken to Comer serious. No adult at home. pic.twitter.com/Prbu8cPwBu
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) March 18, 2021
In a daring jump, she landed on the mattress, but unfortunately suffered to her ankle. The firefighters arrived at the scene when the 4-year-old boy was just about to jump, and rescued him with a ladder. The other little boy was also rescued from inside the residence. Both the boys were unhurt.
6147 wabash. Multi building housing development. Fire in one unit contained and put out. Three kids in fire apartment being evaluated. Seem to be ok. EMS plan 1 secured. Warming bus ordered from CTA pic.twitter.com/bdJBYlOnel
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) March 18, 2021
Referring to the girl’s idea of using the mattress, District Fire Chief Frank Velez said, “I wouldn’t recommend it, but the fact of the matter is that the kid was quite innovative to think of something. You’d be surprised at what an individual can do when you’re in that sympathetic and parasympathetic stage of fight or flight. … They’re thinking to save themselves one way or another and obviously, you have to give a credit to the kid for really thinking of something like that.”
As per a report in ABC7, fire department spokesman Larry Langford said, “It was a kitchen fire. There were no adults in the apartment at the time, but the mother was nearby.” The police added, “Contact was made with a parent of the children and there are no charges in this incident.”
Reportedly, the 3 children were rushed and transported to Comer Children’s Hospital in “stable” condition. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is currently investigating neglect allegations.
What do you think of the heroic girl’s idea? Tell us!