Christchurch girl, 10, alerts mom about fire on neighbor’s deck

A 10-year-old Christchurch girl is being called a hero after alerting her mother that her neighbor’s deck was on fire.

Young Maddie Arnold woke up to the smell of smoke and her swift actions meant the fire was stopped before three fire crews arrived at Aranui’s home shortly after 1 a.m.

Her mother Kimberley says she thought it was a dream when Maddie came screaming into her room.

“Maddie came into my room in the wee hours of the morning screaming, ‘Mom, Mom, the deck is on fire.’

“You don’t normally wake up at night. It was 1.30am and he said he could smell smoke and then he looked out the window and there were flames.

“I thought it was a dream. I looked out the window and yes, the terrace was on fire.”

Kimberley says it’s a good job that he was quick to clear the neighbor’s deck before the fire department arrived.

“Actually, I go there before they leave their house.

“Five more minutes, I think the whole wall would have collapsed.”

Kimberly said neighbors are grateful and not sure what could be causing the fire.

He said Maddie might not understand that she has potentially saved the neighbor’s house and their lives.

“What he has done was very good.

“She had to sleep with her sister last night. She was a little scared … but she did a good job.”

Maddie has ordered a Snickers bar, but her parents have a bigger gift for her this weekend.