Reunited with fire heroine
Published: May 12, 2006
A GRATEFUL mum has been reunited with the mystery heroine who saved her Sheffield home from burning down… thanks to The Star.
When security guard Audra Collier saw smoke and flames coming from Dawn Twigg’s home in Garland Croft, Halfway, she rushed inside to help, putting out the flames with pans full of water.
But she left before Dawn could ask her name or even say thank you.
It was not until her bravery was highlighted in Monday’s Star that Audra, who works at the Crystal Peaks shopping centre, came forward.
The 37-year-old, from Woodhouse, said: “I was just walking up the road outside with a friend and saw the lady and some of her relatives running about. I wondered what was going on, then saw all the flames in the living room, and a lot of black smoke.
“I wouldn’t have liked it if it was my place and I’d rather help someone when I can, so I decided to go in. I felt I would be able to handle the fire and wasn’t afraid - there was an adrenaline rush.”
Audra said she spent about 10 minutes rushing back and forth between Dawn’s kitchen and the burning living room filling pots, pans, and “whatever else I could get my hands on” with water to douse the flames.
She added: “I’ve never tackled a fire before, but I have done a fire marshalling course for work. I am pleased I was able to help.”
Audra was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation at Rotherham District Hospital, but has made a full recovery following the incident last Tuesday morning.
The fire was started when Dawn’s two-year-old second cousin Darren Ashton played with a cigarette lighter which had been accidentally left in the living room when the toddler was brought round by her aunt.
He set fire to a foam-filled cuddly toy dog in the corner of the lounge, damaging furniture, Dawn’s new carpet, and leaving the walls and ceiling blackened.
Dawn and her relatives had been trying unsuccessfully to fight the flames using damp towels, but the fire was not brought under control until Audra’s intervention, and the flames were put out before firefighters arrived.
Dawn said: “Everything was mayhem, but she was brilliant.”
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