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5-year-old girl hailed as hero after alerting family of fire

ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — Five-year-old Theresa Gardner is being called a hero after she alerted her family when a fire broke out in their Alexander County home on Jan. 3.

Deputies in Alexander County recognized her effort and replaced gifts she got for Christmas that were destroyed by the flames on Jan. 3.

"The house is on fire. The house is on fire," Theresa yelled to her family.

Those are words Elizabeth Gardner will never forget as her daughter woke her up after their home on North Carolina Highway 127 caught on fire.

The family lost much of what it owned and, at first, the fire forced them out into the cold.

Sheriff's deputies returned to the home Wednesday to help Theresa find the toys she lost in the flames.

"I'm just really happy that I can turn something that's dark into some kind of light," Elizabeth Gardner said.

"This is all a blessing,” Theresa’s grandmother, Sandee Cockerham, said. “There are so many angels out there. We appreciate everyone's help and thank them for what they have done for us."

Family members said the fire was caused by an electrical issue and was ruled accidental.

Theresa knew what to do because she learned it in school.

"All of the fire departments come and they told us how to get out of the fire," she said.

That lifesaving lesson was recognized by Sheriff Chris Bowman, who gave Theresa a certificate recognizing her bravery.

Family members thanked the Sheriff's Office and everyone else who has helped them this year.

"It means a lot to a little girl like this to be as brave as who she is," Bowman said.

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