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Four-year-old honored for preventing fire

Friday, August 14, 2009
By John I. Carney

Four-year-old Alexa Powers, whose keen eye and determination may have saved a Bedford County landmark from fire, was named an honorary "junior deputy state fire marshal" and presented with everything from proclamations to stuffed animals during Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners.

Powers is the daughter of Christopher and Brooke Powers of Murfreesboro. She was staying with her grandparents, Gary and Rhonda Cope, who live in the building which once served as Flat Creek School.

As the three of them were getting ready to leave for church on April 1, Alexa noticed smoke coming out of the building. Her grandparents could not see it at first but Alexa was persistent.

The Copes discovered that a magnifying makeup mirror was in just the right spot to reflect the sun's rays onto a cosmetic bag, which had begun to smolder.

County Mayor Eugene Ray congratulates Alexa Powers, 4, for her role in detecting what could have been a fire at the old Flat Creek School, now the home of Alexa's grandparents, Gary and Rhonda Cope.
(T-G Photo by John I. Carney)
[Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]
Alexa's powers of observation and her persistence were credited with saving the historic structure.

Powers was recognized Tuesday night by county commissioner and Bedford County Fire Chief Mark Thomas. She was presented with a proclamation from Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray, and was given a plaque and some stuffed toys by Shawn Moore of the Heart of Tennessee chapter of the American Red Cross.

Jeff Huddleston of the state fire marshal's office said that Tennessee Fire Marshal Leslie Newman has designated Alexa as an honorary junior deputy state fire marshal. Huddleston said he had other gifts for her as well.

Alexa took the presentation in stride, smiling at the fuss but with little to say.

Rhonda Cope took the occasion to warn the public of the potential dangers of magnifying mirrors, noting that in her job as a nurse she sees many such mirrors at nursing homes. She said warning labels should be required to caution the public against placing the mirrors where they might focus sunlight on a flammable object.

"People just don't realize that's a fire hazard," said Cope.

Comments

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I would have never guessed that it was a fire hazzard. What a great story. This youngun stuck by her guns, somebody has tought her to be a very confident young lady.

-- Posted by Black Swan on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 1:28 PM

If I was the one who pointed out the smoke, you think they'd give me a medal? Please. Rewarding kids for doing what they're supposed to do is exactly what is wrong with parents these days. It's like giving kids presents for making good grades or doing their homework. If they go above and beyond, a small reward may be in order, but I mean honestly, in all likelihood the girl just said "Hey look, smoke" before following up with "Hey, look, a butterfly!" and "Omigosh look it's a red car!"

What a ridiculous "news" story, cluttering up the media from reporting on the real issues.

-- Posted by Resentful Parent on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 6:17 PM

Resentful Parent

Oh my gosh you are a respentful parent!!!

Personally I like the fluff stories and I loved this one. BTW she's a cutie

-- Posted by Dianatn on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 6:58 PM

respentful=resentful

(have no idea where that "p" came from LOL)

-- Posted by Dianatn on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 6:59 PM

oh what a sweetie. It is nice that someone is being honoured and respected instead of some trash newstory about the latest crack head...

-- Posted by 4fabfelines on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 7:27 PM

Resentful Parent.

You know that I have read most of your blogs. You have the same thread of bitterness in each one of them. Were you abused as a child or maybe a bad child hood. To comment on your blog about someone getting a reward for something they are supposed to do. I expect that the county would give someone a metal for kicking your butt. However as you put it you dont reward someone for doing something that is expected.

-- Posted by bear on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 7:51 PM

Thank you all so very much for your comments about my granddaughter. We are so very grateful to her. As a child , I lost a home to a fire. How devastating! But the real point is maybe saving a life. People in nursing homes, independent living, older baby boomers, people who may not see well, people who use magnified glass and/or magnified mirrors pay attention to the message that this IS a very real fire hazard. Please put them in a drawer when finished using. I hope to one day get a warning put on these.

GMOM

-- Posted by gmom on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 11:14 PM

the real point is to save a life.. Go little Girl!

-- Posted by 4fabfelines on Fri, Aug 14, 2009, at 5:58 AM

Yes it is so much more encouraging to see news stories that depict death and destruction, economic woes, rapes, murders and criminal activities of drug addicts. We don't need stories about heroic actions of a 4 year old little girl saving her grandparents from a really bad situation. By the way, if a grownup had done the same thing and someone came to the paper and said, this person saved my home due to quick thinking...a story would have been done. Someone must be feeling cranky...do you need a cookie?

-- Posted by grannyoldknow on Fri, Aug 14, 2009, at 9:07 AM

My goodness there are some angry people in this world. Sure am glad they are NOT involved in mine or my children's lives! Be proud of your 4 yr. old she is a very special little girl!!

-- Posted by AWARENESS on Fri, Aug 14, 2009, at 11:06 AM

Alexa is a hero, get over it resentful parent. I think every child should recieve recognition and positive support for every good deed. From "thank you" to public awards. You should be ashamed to post your comments. YOU CANNOT GIVE TOO MUCH POSITIVE SUPPORT TO A CHILD.

-- Posted by chs61 on Fri, Aug 14, 2009, at 12:43 PM

heck, if my cat or dog saved a life it would be awesome too. I think that little girl is great.

-- Posted by 4fabfelines on Fri, Aug 14, 2009, at 4:53 PM

This little girl is a real hero, her actions demonstrating much more maturity than the childish rants by the obviously envious and Resentful Parent. Here's a hint...GROW UP!

-- Posted by Tattoos & Scars on Fri, Aug 14, 2009, at 7:28 PM

Right on Resentful Parent. They should stop giving medals to servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. Firefighters and police probably should not be recogized either. They are doing their job. Whoopity-doo.

I read on another thread where you had stated that your son was a habitual drunken driver. So I think you should think twice before posting anything about the jobs of a parent.

-- Posted by TubeSock on Sat, Aug 15, 2009, at 12:57 PM

I would just like to thank you for printing such newsworthy material. This little girl has taught us all a valuable lesson and by the negative remarks of a chosen few....we could certainly use a good lesson or two. What a sad thing it is that someone would resent such a story as this being printed. I feel very sorry for that individual. But more importantly. Alexa Powers you are an awesome and brave precious child. If I were your parents I would be bursting at the seems with pride. You go girl.

-- Posted by deekee on Tue, Aug 18, 2009, at 8:06 PM

SMART GIRL! AND VERY BLESSED BY GOD. LET'S ALL THANK JESUS FOR BLESSING THIS CHILD AND KEEPING THEM ALL SAFE. MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A CHILD'S HEART AND WE MIGHT NOT BE SO BITTER, AND JELOUSE. MAYBE WE WOULD BE MORE LOVING AND CARING OF OTHERS. I'M PROUD OF YOU ALEXA.

-- Posted by Godschild1 on Thu, Aug 20, 2009, at 12:59 PM