Praise for 12-year-old who raised alarm during fire in Ashby-de-la-Zouch

The mother of a 12-year-old who alerted his family when their home went up in flames before calling 999 has praised his “bravery”.

Nicholas raised the alarm when he saw smoke pouring out of the master bedroom of their home in Millfield Close, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, on Wednesday.

He then called the emergency services while mum Jennifer made sure his seven-year-old twin sisters, who were also upstairs, were safe.

Firefighters arrived at the scene at about 21:00 BST and extinguished the flames, while Jennifer and her daughter were taken to hospital after suffering smoke inhalation.

The fire was “one of the scariest experiences of her life”, but Jennifer said she was proud of Nicholas for his quick-thinking actions.

“Nicholas was upstairs in his room,” she said. “I had done a pasta dinner, sat down on the sofa and suddenly I heard Nicholas upstairs yelling: ‘Mum the house is on fire!’

“I ran upstairs and there was smoke pouring out of the master bedroom. I told Nicholas to get out; he grabbed his phone and while running downstairs was calling 999.

“It was one of the scariest experiences of my life but I think Nicholas absolutely showed such a sensible head and bravery.”

The fire service said crews from Ashby, Swadlincote and Birstall Fire Stations arrived at the scene of the fire after Nicholas made the call.

Jennifer said the fire, which started in her bedroom, was believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

Nicholas, who had been playing video games when the fire broke out, said: “I didn’t see the fire, all I saw was smoke pouring out of my mum’s room.

“I ran out as fast as I could and every emotion was just hitting me at once more or less; mostly, shock, sadness and fear.”

After escaping the property, Jennifer alerted their adjoining neighbours, giving them the chance to evacuate before the fire spread.

She said the top floor of the house had been left devastated by the fire.

“The top floor there is pretty much nothing left,” said Jennifer. “Even the windows in the bedroom got blew out by the heat, they have had to take the roof off in order to get to the fire.

“If the fire didn’t get it, the smoke damage got it, if the smoke damage didn’t get, the water from where they had to put the fire out has pretty much gotten it.

“I feel very proud of Nicholas. It hit home that it was something that could have ended so much worse but because of quick-thinking and sensible actions it didn’t.”