Three-year-old Rosie saves Mr Onions thanks to Fireman Sam

Little Rosie Birula saved a neighbour’s life in a house blaze thanks to her love of cartoon hero Fireman Sam. Three-year-old Rosie was looking out of her bedroom window when she saw smoke coming from the home of Hedley Onions, 98. Rosie ran to dad Nick screaming: “There’s smoke just like Fireman Sam.” Nick said: “I asked her if it was steam from a chimney or smoke from a car exhaust. But she said, ‘No, Daddy, it’s coming from Mr Onions’ bedroom window’.

“So I looked out and could see flames in the front room – I told Rosie ‘Well done’ and raced across the road.” The fire started when an old electric blanket caught fire, setting the bed alight. Rosie’s mum Nicola called emergency services to the house in Penarth. Nicola said: “I was across the road, trying to be calm, but I was a bag of nerves.” Nick raced to Mr Onions’ front door and found him at the bottom of the stairs, ready to return upstairs to fetch belongings.



Environment Agency worker Nick said: “I got there just in time. He has breathing difficulties anyway and if he had gone back upstairs he might not have come back down.” Civil servant Nicola said: “Rosie loves Fireman Sam. She’s not allowed to watch much TV, but we always let her watch her favourite programme. She knows everything that’s going on because she can see everything out of her bay window.”

Mr Onions’ bedroom was gutted in the blaze, which firefighters took an hour to bring under control. He was taken to hospital for checks, and his family sent Rosie a thank you card to show their appreciation. Nicola added: “She’s a nosy little thing, and just as well really. She’s a proper little hero and we are so proud of her.” Mr Onions’ son Richard said: “She’s a clever little girl, which is very lucky for us.” Rosie beamed: “I’m glad Mr Onions is OK.”