Real life hero honoured by City of Mississauga

“It's not every day you meet a real life hero,” tweeted Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie as she recognised Adam Attalla for springing into action to save 3 young people from a home fire last month.

“Proud to join @derynrizzi, @MississaugaFES & Council to honour Adam Attalla for springing into action to save 3 young neighbours from their blazing home. Adam, you have shown #Mississauga what true heroism looks like. Thank you.”

Last month, 18-year-old Adam Attalla noticed a burning smell and then his mother saw a neighbour’s house on fire. Two girls were on the roof of the Mississauga semi-detached house with another girl trapped inside.

Adam Attalla leapt into action.

"There was a lot of smoke. So, the two girls came down, and the little girl was still stuck. I told people. Nobody did anything. So, I tried climbing up the wall first. It did not go out well.

"So, a neighbour led me into her house, and I jumped from her roof to the second roof, and I opened the window and got the little girl out," Attalla said.

Five children were inside the home when the fire started. A 15-year-old and an infant were on the main floor and were able to evacuate. The other three children became trapped on the second floor - two managed to get out onto the roof while a seven-year-old got stuck inside a bedroom.

District Fire Chief Craig Dockery described Attalla’s heroic action.

"An 18-year-old came down the road, went into the neighbour's house. They opened the window on the second floor. The 18-year-old then walked along the roof and helped that seven-year-old get out. And then all three of the children walked along the roof and into the neighbour's home. It is absolutely incredible."

Adam Attalla is a graduate of the Olive Grove School (OGS), a private Islamic School in Mississauga and the school expressed their pride in their alumnus.

“OGS staff were so proud of Adam's heroic act to save lives in Mississauga yesterday. Being an OGS Graduate (Class of 2018) is inspiring to all our students and community to transform our mottos into practice.”

“Your ability to recognize and react quickly turned a potentially deadly outcome into a positive one. You are to be commended for your selflessness and bravery in a life threatening situation. We thank you for your courage and actions,” tweeted Mississauga Fire.

The city’s fire department released a video with Adam Attalla to share some fire safety tips.