Eight-year-old Felix Daly was playing outside in late May when he saw black smoke coming from his front porch.
He rushed out the back door and alerted his family to the fire, which engulfed the house in 10 minutes.
Amy Daly, Felix’s mother, was at work at the time of the fire. When she got the phone call to tell her what had happened, she said she collapsed to the ground.
“Felix then told me that he remembered his father telling him that black smoke indicated danger,” Daly said. “I don’t even want to think about what could have happened because my husband literally said the house after they were gone was gone.”
This week, Felix received a certificate of recognition from the City of Moncton and a badge from the fire chief for his quick actions to save his family from the house fire.
Eight-year-old recognized after saving a family from a house fire
Eight-year-old Felix was playing outside when he saw black smoke coming from his front porch and went to alert his family. He has now been recognized by the City of Moncton and the Moncton Fire Department and has been named a “hero”.
The day of the fire
Felix was playing outside with his friends on May 23 around 3pm in the Carsdale Court neighborhood when he saw black smoke coming from the front porch.
He ran out the back door and first alerted his uncle, who then noticed flames coming out of the porch floorboards.
His uncle shouted to the others—Felix’s father, brother, and cousin—and they all ran out the back door.
Daly said she immediately came home from work and found the family at a neighbor’s house.
Eight-year-old Felix received a certificate from the City of Moncton along with a crest and gold coin from the Moncton Fire Department after saving his family from a house fire. (Shane Magee/CBC)
In the weeks after
Daly said the first few weeks after the fire were a “fog.”
“You never expect this to happen to you. You lose everything. You lose your memories,” Dali said.
The family had a cat that has not yet been found.
Amy Daly, Felix’s mother, was at work when her house went up in flames. She said she collapsed when she got the phone call, then rushed home. (Ian Bonnell/CBC)
Daly said the house would have to be rebuilt and she wasn’t sure how long that would take.
Charles LeBlanc, deputy fire chief, said the fire was ruled accidental and started outside.
Daly said the community offers a lot of support. She even had someone reach out and offer to give the family the rest of the lease because he was moving to where the family is now.
She said she was happy to be in the same neighborhood because the biggest priority was for the kids to be able to go to the same school in the fall and be with their friends.
Amy Daly said the house would have to be rebuilt and she wasn’t sure how long that would take. (Ian Bonnell/CBC)
“They’ve already been through a lot of trauma and whatnot, so we try to be as normal as possible through the trauma, but just take it day by day,” Daly said.
“True Hero”
At this week’s Moncton City Council meeting, Felix received a certificate from the city along with a crest and gold coin from the Moncton Fire Department.
Fire Chief Conrad Landry said the crest and gold coin are usually reserved for firefighters, but an exception was made for Felix.
Felix Daly received a certificate of recognition from the City of Moncton after he alerted his family to a house fire and everyone got out safely. (Ian Bonnell/CBC)
“He is a true hero and his actions will never be forgotten,” Landry said.
Landry said he consulted with firefighters when he got to the scene of the fire, and there was “virtually zero survival” when they arrived at the house.
Daly, who attended the city council meeting, said she was very proud of Felix. She said the recognition from the city and fire department was “touching.”
“He’s our hero,” Daly said. “He’s a hero in a lot of other people’s eyes, too.”
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