A four-year-old girl saved her family from a potentially devastating blaze when she spotted the fire at their back door.
Hollie Aitken had gone downstairs to find her favourite toy while her mum Siobhan Mullen was in the bath and spotted smoke and a bright glow coming from a bin and garden furniture by the patio doors.
The nursery pupil ran upstairs to warn her 25-year-old mum and the pair escaped the house in Cowdenbeath and dialled 999.
She was praised for her “brave and instinctive” actions in the drama last Wednesday afternoon as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service treated her to a tour of her local station.
Dad Kevin Aitken, 27, said: “It was a frightening experience for Hollie and Siobhan and we know it could have been so much worse had Hollie not acted so quickly.
“Hollie only turned four in December but she’s such a confident and intelligent girl.
“We are so lucky that Hollie reacted like she did, to instinctively go and warn her mum, which allowed them both to get out of the house and call the fire service.
“The fire engine arrived straight away and the fire was very quickly extinguished. Fortunately were able to limit the damage to the back patio and the rear of the house.”
Two fire appliances rushed to the house in Arthur Street from nearby Lochgelly Community Fire Station, where Hollie later learned about the job of firefighters.
Kevin said: “Hollie had such a fantastic time visiting the station, sitting in the fire engine and getting a shot of the hose. The firefighters were brilliant.
“We can’t thank them enough. Hollie’s not stopped talking about it all since.”
Watch Commander Jenny Murray, who was part of the crew who tackled the fire, said: “We were delighted to welcome Hollie and her mum Siobhan to the station for a tour and to meet some of our firefighters who attended on the day.
“She was such a wee character, going around and shaking hands with everyone, and she really made our day.
“It was important that we thanked and recognised Hollie for her actions.
“While the home did have a working smoke alarm fitted, it would appear that as the living room door was shut, it had not yet activated.
“Instead, Hollie’s brave, instinctive and quick-thinking actions allowed those inside the house to quickly and safely evacuate, and for the early intervention from the fire and rescue service to prevent further damage to the property.”
She also said such incidents highlighted the importance of having a fire escape plan at home, which could save lives.
The fire was recorded as an accidental refuse fire.
