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Schoolgirl Rachel Brewster with, from left, firefighters Colin Colyer, Keilly Flanagan, Jamal Bakkali, Christian Morphites and, at rear, Stephen Jordan |
Firefighters salute schoolgirl’s bravery
She’s my hero, says mother after daughter alerts family as blaze engulfs flat
FIREFIGHTERS have honoured a 10-year-old girl whose quick-thinking saved her family as a blaze swept through their flat.
When Rachel Brewster woke to the sound of a fire alarm at her fourth-floor flat in Cluse Court, St Peter’s Street, Islington, she wrapped herself and her three-year-old brother Lewis in a blanket, then woke her mother Donna and seven-month-old brother Jake.
Donna said: “She’s done fantastic. She put a blanket over herself and her brother Lewis and came into my room.
“I could see the smoke. We went out to the balcony because the heat was so intense we couldn’t go downstairs.
“The fire escape was blocked so we couldn’t get out. I had to go back into the smoke-filled room to get my mobile phone to call the fire brigade.”
The New North Community School pupil used fire safety techniques she had learned when firefighters visited her home to fit a smoke alarm. Ms Brewster said: “At a time like that you would expect the information to go out of your head but she was so quick-thinking. She remembered what they told her.
“I thought it was fantastic. She’s my hero. She’s done really well. I’m so proud.”
The fire swept through the family kitchen, destroying precious photographs and drawings made by her children which Ms Brewster had hung on the fridge.
It is believed the blaze was caused by a fault in a fridge freezer.
The family are now living in temporary accommodation in Wood Green until Islington Council can find them a new home. The blaze has had a lasting effect on the children. Ms Brewster said: “For the first few nights the kids had trouble sleeping. Rachel’s more aware now and she’ll jump up at any noise.”
Rachel was awarded a London Fire Brigade certificate, gift vouchers, chocolates and an LFB sweatshirt at a special assembly at her school in Popham Road on Friday.
Ms Brewster said: “She loved the sweater. She didn’t take it off all weekend. She even slept in it.
“The firefighters have been fantastic. They even said when we move back to Islington to come to the station and they’ll show the kids round.”
Watch manager Emma Beattie, of Islington Fire Station, said: “Rachel was very brave. She did not panic and she alerted the family, which resulted in them all getting into clean air very quickly.” |
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