Fire hero teen merits award

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Zipporah James deserves a medal for her brave actions during a fire in Cairns on Sunday night.

Her actions in isolating the power and ensuring her younger sister Ziva, 9, evacuated the house prevented a much more serious situation.

It could have led to tragedy and the destruction of an Edge Hill home.

Instead her selfless deeds saved her life and that of her sister and from losing the house entirely.

She acted far beyond her years and received praise from firefighters and, of course, her mum Bronnie Kurei.

Officer-in-charge John McMartin said he was surprised by the 17-yearold’s awareness.

“Her understanding of safety and the actions required really surprised me. It could have been a lot worse.”

The fire which broke out in an oven was isolated to the kitchen with the fast work by fire crews preventing the blaze from spreading.

As usual neighbours and other people in Cairns have rallied to the family’s cause providing shelter, food and clothes.

Two-storey Queenslanders, which contain a lot of timber as well as plenty of ventilation, can quickly go up in flames and be destroyed in a matter of moments.

Fortunately in this case the quickthinking teenager as well as the fast arrival of the fire service stopped the the property from being ruined.

We believe Zipporah should be nominated for a commendation for brave conduct. Nick Dalton Deputy editor