4-year-old helps save family from fire

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - He's not old enough for school, but Andra McGowan has already learned a lot in his young life. Wednesday, the 4-year old put some of that knowledge to use when he helped get his mother and other family out of their burning home on Graham Avenue.

“We could be going to a funeral today,” Anica Duke, Andra’s mother, said of the fire. “I just thank God. I absolutely thank God.”

Little Andra said he was laying in bed, watching Barney. He was trying to go to sleep but for some reason he couldn’t. The next thing he knew, flames were flying from an electrical outlet in his room.

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“I was just in the house, and I saw a fire coming out of the plug,” Andra said. “I started yelling, ‘Mommy!’ I just yelled, ‘Get out of the house!’ so the fire wouldn't get on her too.”

But before he alerted his mother, he tried to fight the flames with his hand. He felt the heat from flames. Then, he started blowing his hands in an attempt to cool them. He did not suffer burns, however.

Andra, his mother and two others escaped without injury. His mom said she always talks to her son about all aspects of safety.

“I’m just glad he had the knowledge to let us know something was going on instead of hiding,” she said. “Things we lost are material, and those things can be replaced.
My child and mother, we are irreplaceable.”

Soon after learning the family lost everything, a neighbor dropped off a tricycle for Andra to play with. And while most children are sad about losing their toys, Andra was disappointed his dress clothes for church were destroyed.

The 4-year-old said he wants to be a police officer when he grows up. Wednesday, he fulfilled his duty to serve and protect.