Courageous 6-Year-Old With ADHD Rescues Family From House Fire, Escapes Unharmed

6-year-old Olivia Patterson house fire North Yorkshire fire incident Courageous child

By E.Baloyo , Parent Herald Apr 16, 06:31 am

Photo: (Photo : PAUL ELLIS /Getty Images)

A courageous 6-year-old girl has swiftly rescued her family to safety after running inside their burning house.

The 6-year-old girl, Olivia Patterson, was playing outside their house when she noticed flames emerging from her home's roof in North Yorkshire, England, on April 4.

Olivia's mother, Laura, aged 29, was asleep on the sofa with her younger siblings, Joel-James, 1, and Tiffany, 2, when Olivia dashed inside, urgently shouting, "Wake up mom - wake up the babies."

Courageous Child With ADHD Rescues Family From House Fire

The family safely evacuated the fire, originating in a neighboring house and extending to the upper floor of their three-bedroom residence, without injuries.

Expressing immense pride in her granddaughter, Sadie Gelder, 54, "We are incredibly proud of her. Despite having ADHD, she has been exceptional. Olivia alerting Laura was remarkable - she's only six and ran into a burning building."

"She spotted flames upstairs and yelled, 'Mom, the house is on fire - wake up the babies.' No one thought anyone was inside since there was no car in the driveway," Gelder added, noting the extensive loss of belongings in the fire.

While Laura and her children are currently lodging in an Airbnb, the community has rallied to support them by donating essential items like beds, bedding, and towels as they rebuild their lives after the devastating incident.

Laura Lee Patterson, Olivia's mother, expressed her astonishment, stating, "I was really shocked, I couldn't believe that she had run in. "My neighbour told me they tried to stop her, but [Olivia] knew that we were in there."

Regarding the fire's cause, she mentioned it was under investigation, explaining, "I'm so happy it happened during the day because our smoke alarms didn't go off."

She elaborated that they're connected to the electrical system and suspect the wires might have melted, rendering them ineffective.

North Yorkshire Community Comes To Help the Family

Reports from various sources indicate that an investigation is ongoing regarding the fire incident.

Initial indications suggest that a phone charger might have been the cause, as mentioned in the reports, although a confirmation is still waiting.

Furthermore, to help the family, a fundraising effort organized by Laura's former coworkers on GoFundMe has surpassed its initial goal, amassing £6,112 out of the £5,000 target as of Tuesday morning, April 16.

Remarkably, Laura's daughter discovered the fire incident unexpectedly, alerted their neighbor, and rushed inside to inform her mother since the fire alarms were not functioning. This swift action ensured Laura's and her children's safe evacuation.

The fundraiser also reveals more about the North Yorkshire fire incident, unfortunately, the fire ravaged most of the family's belongings, including the children's, leaving them with nothing. A structural engineer's assessment revealed that their home is beyond salvage and must be demolished and rebuilt, presenting a significant setback.

Presently, they are residing in an Airbnb while searching for a more permanent living arrangement, but they lack essential belongings.

The fundraiser is seeking assistance from the community, not only financially but also in the form of replacements for lost items such as duvets, household and kitchen items, and furniture like tables, sofas, and bunk beds.

Any contributions, whether monetary or in kind, will be utilized for essentials like food, shelter, clothing, household goods, and necessities for the children.