‘His grandpa taught him about fire safety and it saved his life’

The mum of nine-year-old Christian has explained how having family in the fire brigades helped the boy escape the devastating blaze that engulfed their western Sydney home on Friday. 

Christian was home alone when fire broke out in his house; quick-thinking saved his life. Photo: Nine

Christian was home alone on Friday night, so when he accidentally knocked over a candle causing a fire, the nine-year-old boy had no one to rely on but himself.

Christian’s mum, Chelsea Daubney had ducked out for 10 minutes with his two-year-old sister to get dinner for the family when disaster struck.

The fire spread quickly, from the candle on the coffee table in the lounge to all around the two-bedroom townhouse.

But because his grandpa was an ex-fire fighter, Christian knew exactly what to do.

“Christian’s grandfather worked in the fire brigade and always taught myself and my kids about [fire safety] when there is a fire in the house,” Chelsea said on Today.

“He really showed he listened to my dad – he said he got down low, covered his mouth and smashed the window when he couldn’t get through the door.”

The boy used a metal pole to break the front window, calling out to a passer-by for help.

The good Samaritan pulled Christian through the window to safety.

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Christian was home alone when fire broke out in his house; quick-thinking saved his life. Photo: Nine

Boy caught in house fire after being left home alone

When Chelsea went to fetch dinner with her daughter, she thought Christian was safe in the house.

They returned to a horror scene.

The house was engulfed in flames, and at first, Chelsea thought her boy was inside.

“My first thought was that my son was dead and that I had to get inside and just save him,” she told Sunrise.

“But then I saw him sitting with my neighbour… I just couldn’t believe what had happened. I thought it was a nightmare.”

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Chelsea Daubney only went out for 10 minutes, but it was enough for a fire to take hold in her home. Photo: Nine

Community rallies around family who lost home in house fire

Christian’s quick thinking helped to save him, but Chelsea also thanks the tight-knit Penrith community.

“I don’t know what I would do without my children … I am so thankful and so is he,” she said on Monday.

“We’ve been inundated with so many donations and people reaching out, family and friends, everyone’s just been so great,” she said.

“It’s such a beautiful community in Penrith.

“Absolutely everyone (has reached out).”

Originally published as ‘His grandpa taught him about fire safety and it saved his life’