Fire-smart heroes save home
TWO quick-thinking Mareeba primary school students have been hailed as heroes for putting out a fire threatening their family home with buckets of water.
Hope Musch, 13, and sister Joy, 10, worked furiously for 10 minutes pouring water on a sofa, which was shooting flames nearly 3m high, to stop a fire caused by an electrical fault.
The blaze stared on a veranda and when fire crews arrived at the Doyle St home at 9.30pm on Friday, the girls had stopped the fire from spreading to the main house.
Hope said the family was about to go to bed when Joy noticed the fire and immediately called 000, while she started pouring water on the flames.
"I kept running backwards and forwards until it was out," she said.
"Smoke was billowing everywhere but I really wasn’t thinking about anything but keeping my family safe."
The fire-smart Musch girls said they knew exactly what needed to be done because the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service had been visiting their school since prep to teach fire safety.
The latest school visit was a week before the June school holidays.
"I used everything we learnt in class," Hope said.
"I isolated the power and knew I could pour water on the fire because oil was not involved.
"When you sit there listening to the firies you don’t think you will use it but I did and once the fire was over you really think about what could have happened and what we could have lost.
"I would say to all the kids that they should listen to the firies when they come to school."
Mareeba station officer Phil Miller said the QFRS was proud of the girls.
He said from calling 000, to isolating the power, they did everything right and should be applauded.
"They obviously paid attention to the fire education program we deliver to schools," he said.
"There was a possibility the fire could have spread to the lounges and the adjoining structure.
"Their quick actions have prevented the extensive loss of property."
Mr Miller said the preparedness of the family, who had a fire plan and made sure safety switches had been installed, all helped to save the home.
"All residents should have safety switches installed and be mindful that toxic fumes caused by the fire can be harmful," he said.
"And if the fire is beyond their control they must evacuate."
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Young firies: Fire fighter Russell Clarke presented Hope and Joy Musch with Queensland Fire and Rescue Service mascots for reacting quickly when fire broke out in their home.
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