Girl saves family from fire: 'I didn't want anyone to die'
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OAK GROVE, Ore. – A 7-year-old girl helped her family escape a house fire early Saturday morning in Oak Grove.
Alexus Osburn woke her family when their home filled with smoke at around 2 a.m.
"I didn't want anyone to die," said Alexus.
The family escaped, along with their dog. Bill Osburn, Alexus' father, called 911. "She pretty much saved everybody," Bill said.
No one was hurt.
Alexus said she woke up to use the bathroom and saw her house was filled with smoke. She woke up her brother, her father and his girlfriend.
"When I got up, I just opened the door and could not see," she said. "Everything was all blowy because of the smoke."
Firefighters said the fire started in the dryer. There were no working smoke alarms in the home. Bill Osburn said he turned off the smoke detectors because he was heating the home with a wood stove.
"Stupid thing to do," Bill said. "Between ignorance and laziness not putting them back up, if she hadn't woke up I think things would have been a lot different."
Damage was estimated at $20,000.
"I'm never, ever going to touch fire," Alexus said.
KATU's Bob Heye contributed to this story.
See, there is a reason that the manufactures of smoke alarms make them beep when the batteries get low and --- go off when there is smoke in the house ---Â
Great job girl!
Folks..take it from a firefighter...smoke detectors save lives. This little girl and her family should be the inspiration everyone needs to get their homes in order...escape drills and plans, smoke detectors, available fire extinguishers etc.
So proud of you Alexus, :0) We Love you, Grandma & Grandpa
What a cute little girl. Good job, honey! I bet you're daddy is really proud.
I am very thankful that she woke up when she did. I couldn't imagine her not coming home today.
It was quick thinking. This girl deserves an award. Other people are also doing their best to help others. http://t.co/0ZXNXz2VxW.
"The family escaped, along with their dog. Bill Osburn, Alexus' father, called 911."
I initially misread that period after dog as a comma. What? Their dog is named Bill Osborn, too?
Oh Lord, it's a fahr! Aint nobody got time for that.
@I_Miss Ok this made me laugh, I got bronchitis...Â
What a sweetheart.... Good job young lady! Now get the full works of protection for your family..... That would include working smoke detectors etc!
"There were no working smoke alarms in the home. Bill Osburn said he turned off the smoke detectors because he was heating the home with a wood stove."
Turing off the smoke alarms because he heats the the home with wood. No matter how hard I try the logic of this statement is totally lost on me. I guess some folks just think different.
They are lucky to be alive. If Alexus had not gotten up to go to the bathroom we would have read about how 4 people died and it was because they didn't have a working smoke detector.
So does dad ignore seatbelts cause someone lived because they didn't have them on?Â
Bad ventilation may have caused airborne particles that were repeatedly setting off the detector. Green wood is pretty smoky, also. Just glad everyone is ok.
@RalphCramden I would bet that the smoke from the woodstove kept setting off the detectors, and instead of figuring out how to fix the venting on the stove so the smoke went where it should have, he just turned them off. He's right, that was stupid, and he's really lucky his daughter woke up and got everyone out.
@kyrielle @RalphCramden If the woodstove wasn't venting properly, they're lucky they didn't wind up with carbon monoxide poisoning as well.
You're right and he deserves the criticism, but I think he realizes how foolish it was to do this. I'm glad his family didn't die because of it. Hopefully he is more vigilant about his family's safety now.
@FinallyÂ
One can only hope he used this as an object lesson and changes his ways.
Every time I read about one of these incidents I check all my smoke detectors to make sure they are working AND my CO2 detector.
@RalphCramden  Maybe dad thought the dryer was the wood stove?
@Mikey
That would explain all the wood found in the dryer.....8-}
@RalphCramden Dad was banging Alexus' "new mommy"
@RalphCramden Yes Ralph, one would think that if you are heating with a wood stove, they would certainly want working fire extinguishers. Stupid really is hard to fix.
Er......smoke alarms, but extinguishers are also a good plan.
There,..now all is well
@danoseknows A fire extinguisher is a wise investment... Not just a cheap one either...
Yowza!Â
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@Josh Johnshum Dryers can be excellent ashtrays if used in a responsible manner
Insert Dryers can kill /outlaw quote here  ^  ^ ^
I feel bad for the dog, this was his chance to be the hero, now the little girl gets all the attention, figures.