Chesterfield County, Va. — The heroic efforts of a nine-year-old Virginia girl after a fire broke out in her family’s home have been recognized by her local fire department.
Mackenzie was in her loft bed in her Chesterfield County, Va., home on Jan. 12 when she was jarred awake by the unsettling noise, heat and smoke from flames within the room.
“I woke to crackling sounds under my bed and my pillow being really hot and not being able to breathe really well,” Mackenzie said. “I went down my loft bed stairs and I looked under and saw my (space) heater had caught fire.”
Mackenzie didn’t hesitate and quickly alerted her parents and siblings.
“I yelled ‘fire’ in my room to wake up my little sister to get out and then I yelled ‘fire’ out of my room to wake up everybody else.”
The fire engulfed the girls’ room, destroying their possessions, including their favourite toys and recent Christmas gifts, but all members of the family escaped to safety.
Days after the fire, the family, who remain displaced from their home, seized the opportunity to thank the Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) members in-person, bringing pizza to the station.
During their visit, the crew made Mackenzie an honorary firefighter, complete with a patch recognizing her bravery in the face of danger. They also surprised the children with gifts including new art supplies and toys to replace those lost in the fire.
