According to The Times and Yorkshire Live, Olivia’s mother Laura, 29, was asleep on the couch with her two younger siblings Joel-James, 1, and Tiffany, 2, when Olivia rushed inside, urgently shouting, “Wake up mom — wake up the babies.”
Thanks to Olivia’s quick thinking, the family managed to flee the fire unharmed, which had originated in the neighboring house and spread to the upstairs of their three-bedroom home.
Expressing immense pride in her granddaughter’s courage, Sadie Gelder, 54, told The Times, “We are absolutely so proud of her. She’s got ADHD so she’s been absolutely amazing. We can’t believe Olivia got Laura out — she’s six years old and ran into a burning building.”
Gelder continued, recounting Olivia’s actions, “She looked up and saw a fire blazing upstairs … she was shouting, ‘Wake up mom, the house is on fire — wake up the babies.’ The people in the street didn’t think anyone was in because there wasn’t a car on the drive.”
Unfortunately, the family lost nearly all their possessions in the fire. “They managed to get a few of the baby’s clothes but everything else has gone,” Gelder lamented. However, the community has rallied around them, donating essentials like beds, bedding, and towels to help them rebuild their lives.
Currently, Laura and her children are temporarily staying in an Airbnb, as reported by the York Press. Meanwhile, an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, with initial indications suggesting it may have been sparked by a phone charger, according to multiple reports.
In a heartwarming display of support, a GoFundMe page set up by Laura’s former colleagues has garnered over £4000 (approximately $4994) in donations as of Monday, April 15, to assist the family in their recovery.
