4-year-old on a bike ride saves family from house fire

Maggie O'Mara | KTVB

Show Caption Hide Caption 4-year-old on a bike ride saves family from house fire A very alert 4-year-old girl in Boise, Idaho saw smoke coming from a house in her neighborhood. She told her dad, and he was able to alert the family inside before it was too late.

BOISE, Idaho - Rosie Moran is an honorary firefighter, thanks to her quick-thinking heroics. She recently spotted a home in her neighborhood on fire and got help, possibly saving the lives of those inside.

Did we mention Rosie just turned four years old in May?

"We were just doing our usual stroll around the block and I was with both girls," said Rosie's dad, Sean. "She was cruising along a little bit further ahead and she came speeding back to me."

Rosie told her dad that a neighbor's home was on fire.

"I noticed there was black smoke," Sean said. "I jogged up and followed Rosie and she took me to this house, and sure enough I looked around the corner and the side of the house was all on fire.

"I was able to yell in, 'Hey, your house is on fire!'"

Ernie Ortiz, his wife and daughters were inside. They had no idea their home was burning.

Both dads jumped into action. Sean grabbed a garden hose and started spraying down the flames, while Ernie went to get his wife and daughter out of the home.

"[Ernie] ran to get his wife and his daughter who were taking a bath in the bathroom right next to where that fire was, it was sharing the same wall," Sean said.

Firefighters arrived on scene, and after extinguishing the flames, were surprised to find out it was a 4-year-old who first noticed the fire.

"They were super proud of her," Sean said. "In fact, one of the ladies handed her a little badge, a junior firefighter badge, honorary member. That made her day."

Ernie said he thinks the fire started when oily rags from staining a deck had spontaneously combusted in a garbage can on the side of the house.

Sean says Rosie was in the right place at the right time.

"Five minutes earlier or five minutes later it would have been a totally different story," he said. "It could have easily gotten pretty big."

Pointing to his own daughter, Ernie thanked Rosie for being so alert. "You see this little girl right here, you saved her! I want to thank you very much."

It was a special moment for both families.

"She is a real hero," Ernie said.

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