Brampton neighbours teamed up to save family of six, two cats, from fire
Published June 7, 2021 at 8:12 pm
A Brampton resident is being hailed as a hero after helping five family members and two cats escape from an early-morning fire.
A garage and four cars were on fire and a residential house was at peril of being engulfed. Pamela Noseworthy sprung into action, helping her wheelchair-bound mother and brother-in-law, along with three other family members, out of the house and into the back yard.
Officers from 22 division responded to the 9-1-1 call placed by a neighbour and began evacuating local homes as vehicles that had caught fire began to explode around them.
A layer of thick smoke began to move toward the Noseworthy family, trapping them between a fence and the toxic fumes. Officers coordinated their efforts to assist the family and disconnected a propane tank in the process to prevent further danger as Brampton firefighters battled the blaze.
“They were awesome,” said Noseworthy of the responding officers. “They busted the fence down and helped us to get out of the yard. One put my mother over his shoulder and lifted her over it. They helped my brother-in-law over too. He is an amputee.”
No one was injured in the incident. However, two family cats who were inside the residence at the time were at risk of a different fate. The firefighters on the scene refused to give up until they found them both. One of them suffered some injury, but a local veterinarian nursed the feline family member back to health. They have all been reunited.
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Police are noting several heroes from this incident.
Noseworthy, focused on getting her family safe, found herself shoeless outside. Seeing this, her neighbour gave her the shoes from his feet. More neighbours flocked to aid the family with provisions and financial support, as resources have been more challenging to acquire due to pandemic restrictions.
“Never in a million years did I think this would happen.” said Noseworthy. “It still feels like a dream.”
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