Blaze girl saves sister
Teen wins high praise for quick thinking
FIREFIGHTERS have praised the efforts of a 17-year-old Edge Hill girl who sprung into action when her family home was going up in flames.
Zipporah James was home with her nine-year-old sister Ziva about 5.40pm on Sunday when a fire broke out in the kitchen.
She ran downstairs in the two-storey Queenslander to cut the power and evacuate herself and her younger sister.
Zipporah then dialed 000 and called her mother, Bronnie Kurei, who rushed home.
Firefighters from Cairns and Smithfield stations managed to extinguish the blaze.
Police, ambulance and Ergon Energy crews also were called to the Pyne St fire.
Ms Kurei said she was extremely proud of her daughter’s reaction and response to the scary situation.
“We’re so grateful (that the fire didn’t spread any further),” she said.
“The stuff that we’ve lost can be replaced and everyone’s safe, that’s the main thing.”
Fire investigators were at the home yesterday to assess the cause of the blaze, which is believed to have originated in the oven before spreading to the kitchen.
Ms Kurei thanked the emergency response crews and Ergon Energy for their assistance.
“Our neighbours have been amazing too. They’ve come over with food and clothes and offered their homes to us. We’re really overwhelmed,” she said.
Cairns Fire Station’s John McMartin was the officer-incharge at the scene on Sunday.
He said Queenslander homes were highly combustible so Zipporah’s actions to cut the power and evacuate herself and her younger sister were to be praised.
“I was a little surprised that someone of her age had the awareness,” he said.
“She noticed something had changed with the power, she saw a light flicker, and she immediately went down to isolate the power.
“Her understanding of safety and the actions required really surprised me. It could have been a lot worse.”