Girl wakes mum as fire engulfs house, family get out safely
A four-year-old girl has woken her mother and helped two families flee a potentially deadly house fire in Melbourne.
The two adults and six children evacuated the Broadmeadows home on Friday morning after little Hafsa Sheikh heard the smoke alarm and woke her mother.
"I was sleeping and next minute my daughter is waking me up saying there is a fire in the house," Hafsa's mother Nimo said.
The family safely evacuated. Source: 7News
Little Hafsa. Source: 7News
"I opened my eyes and saw the whole curtain was on fire. I'm like 'holy moley, run'."
Hafsa's mother, two brothers, three aunties and grandmother were all asleep when the fire broke out, but her quick-thinking saved the family.
"When I see (the rest of the family safe), I start to cry because they were alive and I thought they were burnt," Ms Shiekh said.
The Broadmeadows house fire. Source: 7News
Nimo Shiekh. Source: 7News
Ms Shiekh was treated at the scene after suffering burns to her back, when a burning curtain draped across her back, and smoke inhalation.
Fire investigators say the cause of the fire was unattended clothes placed on a heater to dry.
Unfortunately for the family, the home was destroyed in the blaze with the damage bill at least $200,000.
Firefighters inside what's left of the home. Source: 7News
"It just goes to show that without a working smoke alarm. lives will be lost," Commander David Woods said.
The local council is now helping the family find temporary accommodation, but Ms Shiekh says she just wants the family to stay together.
"I was crying with the pain and also crying to see (the family) alive. I'm like 'Oh my God, yay they're alive'," she said.
The family safely out of the property. Source: 7News
