A pile of ash and wood is all that remains of a shed in Prince Albert's West Flat neighbourhood. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Local heroes

Prince Albert high school students come to aid of local family

Apr 19, 2022 | 3:00 PM

A late night snack run last Friday night, may have helped prevent a tragedy from occurring.

Around 10 p.m., Asha Sharif, 19, and her cousin Fatima Hassan, 16, were driving through the city’s west flat area, when they passed by a house in the 900 block of 18th St. W.

“I looked over and thought it was like a streetlight at first and we kept driving. And then we saw their shed was literally on fire,” Sharif explained to paNOW.

The pair turned around and went to get a closer look, noticing right away no one was coming out of the house. Moments later, a young child emerged, carrying a dog, but just as quickly went back inside.

Growing concerned Sharif and Hassan then went up the front door, and encouraged the family to get out – three children and their mother who was also carrying a baby.

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“She handed me the baby and we got all of them inside the car,” Sharif said.

A picture taken at the time of the fire. (Facebook)

Noting the baby was only wearing a shirt and a diaper, Sharif explained they turned the heat up in the car and moved it to a safe distance, where they waited together for about 10 minutes when the fire department arrived.

Days later, Sharif recalled how she did not feel scared until after the incident, and also noted how fast everything happened.

“The people that were in the house didn’t actually know there was a fire. They were just in their living room. They heard a loud bang and they didnt really think anything of it. It wasn’t until after they came outside that they saw the fire,” she explained.

Sharif attends Carlton Comprehensive High School and Hassan goes to Ecole Valois. Recalling the mother’s gratitude after, Sharif said she does not feel like a hero.

“No I feel like anyone would have done the same thing,” she said.

paNOW attempted to speak to the mother on Tuesday, but she declined.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Deputy Fire Chief Alex Paul told paNOW there was nothing found at the scene that could have caused the fire such as gas powered vehicles.

“There was no reason for a fire to start that they could find,” he said.

With respect to the local good samaritans, Paul encouraged anyone who sees a fire, to stop and call 911.

“Don’t make the assumption that the vehicle in front of you saw it and reported it. If everybody took the attitude that somebody else reported it, then nobody will,” he said.

—

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell