Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:

A five-year-old girl from Aurora, Gracie White, became a real-life hero last month when she helped her family escape a fire. It was late at night, and Gracie was almost asleep in her mother’s bed when she heard loud shouting. A fire had broken out—and it wasn’t just a drill.

Her mother quickly gathered her two younger sons, who were still asleep, and turned to Gracie with a calm but urgent voice: “Gracie, there’s a fire. We’ve got to go.” Without hesitation, the preschooler sprang into action. She got up in her pajamas, barefoot, and grabbed her favorite stuffed bear before heading next door to her grandparents’ house—her family’s designated meeting spot during emergencies.

“She didn’t cry. She didn’t say a word,” her mother later recalled. “She just told me to call 911 and calmly walked next door.” The plan had been put in place after Aurora firefighters visited Gracie’s school as part of Fire Prevention Month, teaching kids about safety and emergency procedures.

Aurora Fire Department Lieutenant Jim Rhodes was deeply impressed by Gracie’s actions during the fire on November 20th at the White home on Donna Avenue. “It really makes my day,” he said. “This is exactly why we do what we do. It actually makes a difference.”

Every October, Aurora firefighters visit local schools to teach children important fire safety drills like EDITH—Exit Drills in the Home. The program encourages families to practice evacuation plans and identify a safe meeting point outside the home. That’s exactly what Gracie used that night.

Rhodes explained that even very young kids, as young as 2 years old, can learn basic fire safety steps such as Stop, Drop, and Roll, Get Low and Go, and how to stay away from flames, lighters, and the kitchen. Gracie’s class was one of hundreds that received this vital education in October.

This year, the Aurora Fire Department conducted 383 school programs, reaching over 9,000 students. Each of them now has the knowledge and skills to act safely in an emergency. Gracie is living proof of that.

Shortly after the fire, Aurora Fire Marshal Gary Krienitz received a call from Gracie’s teacher, thanking Engine Company 9 for their excellent work during the school program and for the impact they had on Gracie.

“Many people think nothing bad will ever happen to them,” Rhodes said. “But it can. And that’s why we’re here—to help prevent tragedies and save lives.”

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