Related coverage: CFA battles house fire in Heathcote
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
SEVEN-year-old Jayde Romero was the first person to notice the thick smoke pouring from the fire that went on to raze her home last Thursday.
But the spirited Heathcote Primary School student didn’t panic because she knew exactly what to do – she told her “uncle” and close family friend Noel Bland.
“I had a book, and it says in the book that you’ve got to tell an adult,” Jayde said.
Mr Bland had just picked up Jayde and her sister Courtney, 5, after school and it was when Jayde went to put her uniform in the laundry that she saw the smoke.
Once Mr Bland had been alerted, he got Courtney outside and then went back in to investigate the origins of the smoke.
Jayde followed him inside to make sure he was alright, but did not make it far before the smoke forced her back outside.
“She’s very caring,” her mum Jess Drganc said.
Jayde said she had been a “little bit” scared, but was worried for Mr Bland.
“Because he always looks after us when Nan has to go away and I like it when he looks after us,” Jayde said.
“Sometimes we get to feed the dogs, and the horses and the donkey.”
Mr Bland said that even though he did not want her anywhere near the fire, Jayde’s actions “really made me proud”.
He knew from the amount of smoke that the fire was beyond his ability to fight and attention was turned to saving the family’s pets.
Two of the dogs were saved, but one dog and two birds perished in the fire, which was caused by a clothes dryer.
Jayde and Courtney were treated by paramedics at the scene, but Mr Bland had to be taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
“Nan took us to the shop and we got a lolly for being very brave,” Jayde said.
Everything in the home was destroyed, including baby and wedding photos.
The family have temporary accommodation at Costerfield and are being assisted by various organisations and donations from the public.
“It’s been very overwhelming,” Ms Drganc said of the support.
They have lived in the area for just six months, having moved to central Victoria from Adelaide.
CFA District Two operations officer Chris Jacobsen said it was vital people did not re-enter a burning building, but commended Jayde for the care she showed for Mr Bland.