“We’re back in the apartment,” said Nansambu. “I just want to thank the fire department, our city hall and the landlord. “They attended to our needs. They were really helpful.”

Crawford said she has been too scared to return to her apartment. She’s staying with her cousin Doug Salt and his fiancé Heather Bizzell in Burlington until she can find a new place.

Crawford thanked them, as well as her friend Jagdeep Singh. Shortly after the fire, Singh brought her, Nakabiri and Nansambu blankets and his car to warm in. He organized their emergency shelter, food and clothing with the Red Cross.

Crawford also was pleased with firefighters for rescuing her cat from the apartment a few hours after the fire.

No one was injured in the blaze, although firefighters had to rescue three tenants from their balconies with an aerial ladder.

Burlington’s fire chief had high praise for the three women.

“The fire could’ve resulted in a much worse outcome, were it not for these individuals,” said Tony Bavota. “The efforts of these three individuals were instrumental in ensuring that residents escaped the building with no lives lost.”

Alert actions cited

He cited Nansambu and Crawford’s alert actions.

“Florence and Sarah, these two recognized an elderly neighbour in need of help and managed to guide him out of the smoke-filled hall to safety and guide him to where emergency services could provide more care,” said Bavota.

He also praised Nakabiri.

“Samantha, through her quick thinking, warned all the residents on the floor about the fast-moving fire and smoke conditions on that floor,” said Bavota.

He noted it only takes a few minutes for smoke to completely fill a hall.

“Often, smoke causes the fatality and not fire,” said Bavota. “That’s why there’s a smoke alarm law in Ontario.They’re required on every level of a home.”

He added it’s important to have a fire escape plan.

“People need to know the plan and talk about it regularly,” said Bavota.

Platoon chief Dennis Hayes said apartment dwellers can get complacent after previously having false alarms.

“You have to react quickly to the alarm,” he said. “That’s really the key.”

Hayes advised staying low when going through smoke and leaving via stairwells, not elevators.

Tenants can go out on the balcony