City of West Chicago issued the following announcement on June 27.
At the Monday, June 18, 2018 City Council meeting, there was a special recognition for Sophia Miller, age 11, and Maggie Pilon, age 12. Both of these young women are students at Leman Middle School. Riding their bicycles around the neighborhood Tuesday, June 5, 2018, they noticed flames on the siding of a home on Hathaway Avenue. Per the information of the email of Jen Miller, Sophia’s mother, “According to the girls they did not see anyone outside the home that would be aware of what was going on but noticed several cars in the driveway.” Assuming the family was inside, they went to the door and rang the doorbell, which was answered by a small child of approximately five or six, and the father right behind him. “Sophia told the man ‘I think your house is on fire,’ as her friend Maggie pointed to the flames. When the man went outside and saw the flames, he called to his wife to get out and grabbed a hose in an attempt to put out the flames.”
He thanked the girls. They rode their bikes home, “shared what happened and asked if they could have ice cream for being helpful.” On their way to get the much deserved ice cream, the mother and girls drove by the home, where there now were two fire trucks and several police cars. The mother, father, the three children and the rest of the family were outside. When the fireman asked why they didn’t call the fire department, “Sophie responded, ‘I did not know the number to the fire department and figured we should tell the people to get out of the house.’ If no one was home, they were going to call the fire department.”
Mayor Ruben Pineda thanked each of the girls for their actions and quick thinking. “You should be extra proud of yourselves.” West Chicago Fire Protection District Fire Chief Pat Tanner also thanked them, but praised them for not using their telephones. “I commend you for not using your telephones. Today many take pictures or video the happenings, but do nothing to help. Your actions helped.” (As a side note, the two girls dressed up for this occasion. One could see they knew this was an important event. They could not stay for the rest of the meeting as they had ice hockey practice.)
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of West Chicago
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