Girl, 16, earns hero award
Published: June 29, 2007
Nicole Gorski of Chesterfield, 16, received an award from the Chesterfield Township Fire Department on April 12 for being a quick thinking hero during a time of crisis.
Gorski was at her home on Harrisburg Lane while her mother Melissa Malinwoski was at work March 28.
Gorski was keeping a watchful eye over her two younger brothers, six-year-old Ryan and four-year-old Andrew at the home. Gorski said she was setting some water to boil and since it was chilly, she bumped up the thermostat to get the furnace to warm up the house.
She took her brothers outside for a brief moment but, when Andrew got dirty, and she had to bring them inside.
That is when she noticed the smoke pouring from the air vents into the home.
“She noticed smoke in the rear of the home, told her brothers to get out and made sure no one re-entered the home,” said Antrikin.
Gorski said she held tissue over her nose as she turned down the thermostat and turned off the stove in the home before running out.
She also saved the family’s dog.
Firefighter Tracy Antrikin presented the award as Gorski’s mom watched with pride.
“We are very proud of Nicole. The actions she performed during this emergency were perfect,” said Antrikin.
“The house was filled with smoke but there was no fire. It looks like the furnace overheated but without her quick call to 911 and the fire department’s response, this furnace could have gotten hot enough to catch fire,” said Antrikin.
Antrikin said Gorski showed a presence of mind that many adults would not have shown during such as emergency.
“She acted in the way that we teach at local schools,” said Antrikin.
Malinwoski said the furnace has been replaced.
Gorski is a student at L’Anse Creuse High School North in Macomb Township and hopes to go to college to study journalism.
She also contributes to her school’s student-run newspaper.
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