6-Year-Old Alerts Family to Fire, All 6 Survive

When fire tore through their Mesa condo at 2 a.m. Saturday, six-year-old Iris became her family's lifeline. She woke her parents to alert them to the flames, giving her father precious seconds to act.

He wrapped all four children in a blanket and carried them through fire-engulfed stairs to escape the burning eight-unit complex near Dobson and Baseline roads. Neighbors in the other seven units were also displaced, but everyone made it out alive.

By Sunday afternoon, doctors at Valleywise Health's burn center in Phoenix delivered hopeful news. All six family members are stable and recovering.

Twelve-year-old Ryan suffered severe burns to his torso and upper body. Three-year-old Daisy has already undergone one surgery with another completed Sunday. Six-month-old Autumn sustained burns down to her skull but is showing progress.

Both parents remain in critical condition. Iris, the 6-year-old who raised the alarm, suffered burns to about 10 percent of her body and has the lightest injuries of the family.

Dr. Arpana Jain worked through the night in the operating room treating the family. She thanked Mesa fire crews and medical staff for their swift response and tireless efforts.

"It takes a team, a village to help our patients heal," Dr. Jain said at Sunday's press conference. That village now includes strangers across the community rallying to support the family.

Why This Inspires

Uncle Aaron Ledlow called the family's survival "nothing short of a miracle." In moments when seconds matter, a young child's alertness and a father's courage turned potential tragedy into a story of survival.

The family hasn't forgotten the seven other households displaced by the fire. They're planning food drives to support everyone affected, showing that even in their darkest hour, they're thinking of others.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the outcome speaks to the power of quick thinking, brave action, and a community that shows up when it matters most.