A Smithers girl was recognized yesterday (Wednesday) for helping to alert her family to a fire in their home.
12-year-old Tyana Vandergaag said she was awoken the morning of December 13th and had a weird feeling about being in the house.
“I don’t know why I woke up. I don’t know if I smelt it or heard it but I woke up,” she said.
She went and told her parents who helped evacuate the family of six and their dog before the house burned down.
Both Smithers and Telkwa fire were on scene that day with about 20 firefighters attending.
Smithers Fire Chief Derek Dickson awarded her the Fire Chiefs Commendation for her efforts, along with a Challenge Coin.
“We’re a very reactive agency and I think it’s very important that we take the time to acknowledge when people within the community are doing good things and making a difference,” said Dickson.
This is the first time he’s given out this award since starting last year, and said this is something he hopes to do more often in the future.
“We see a lot of tragic events where perfect strangers and by-standers will step up and help and then often drift off into the night,” said Dickson.
“We don’t get a chance to say, ‘thank you’ or to acknowledge the trauma they may be going through because of witnessing something or assisting a scene that might be a bit more challenging.”
A GoFundMe was started for the family following the fire, which has raised over $13,000.
They plan to rebuild their home later this summer.
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