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4-year-old Olympia girl honored for saving neighbor's life

She isn't old enough to know how to read, but a four-year-old girl in Olympia knows how to be a hero.
She isn't old enough to know how to read, but four-year-old Laila Edwards in Olympia knows how to be a hero.

Four-year-old Laila Edwards of Olympia is an early riser.

Her mother and her community’s fire chief said getting up early last Saturday likely saved her neighbor’s life.

Around 7 a.m. Saturday, Laila spotted smoke coming from her neighbor’s roof. She told her mother, who called 911 and ran next door.

Angela Edwards yelled and banged on the neighbor’s front door. Patrick LaValla had passed out from the smoke filling the home, but Edwards was able to wake him up so he could get out safely,

He did not have a smoke alarm in the house.

“I feel there was definitely a couple of angels with me that morning,” said LaValla. “And one of them just happened to be next-door.”

The South Bay Fire Department gave Laila a certificate and coin for her efforts.

Chief Brian VanCamp said she likely saved LaValla’s life.

LaValla plans on giving Laila a thank you gift.

He also is going to buy a smoke detector.

Laila said she wants to be a children’s book illustrator when she grows up, but she liked playing the role of lifesaver for LaValla.

“I wanted to help him,” said Laila. “He’s our neighbor. I don’t want him to die.”

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