Ella Wright earns Fire Department’s Award of Merit
Bartlesville resident Ella Wright, 11, was presented with the Award of Merit by the Bartlesville Fire Department on Monday for her actions that helped stop a fire at a neighbor’s home and saved the life of the family’s dog. Also pictured are, from left, Fire Chief David Topping and firefighters Mark Curtis and Ace Ullrich.
Bartlesville resident Ella Wright, 11, on Monday received the Award of Merit from the Bartlesville Fire Department for her role in helping to stop a fire at a neighbor’s home — which ultimately resulted in firefighters being able to save the life of the family’s dog.
Fire Chief David Topping presented the award during a City Council meeting held Nov. 6.
Topping said that on Sept. 29, Wright saw smoke coming from the roof of a home on Amherst Drive.
“Without hesitation, she ran across the street to a neighbor’s house, knocked on the door and instructed (resident) Donna Franks to dial 911,” Topping said. “As Donna was dialing the number, she asked little Ella, ‘Why?’ to which Ella replied, ‘There’s smoke coming from that house across the street!”
Topping said firefighters responded to the home and were able to quickly extinguish the fire as well as rescue a member of the homeowner’s family — their cherished dog, Abby — thanks to Wright’s actions.
“Members of the Bartlesville Fire Department would like Ella Wright to receive recognition for her swift actions and courage that day,” Topping told the council. “Had it not been for Ella Wright, the end result of that fire would have been completely different.”