Fillmore Township, MI -- A three-year-old boy is credited with saving his grandmother's life in Fillmore Township on Tuesday when he woke her from a nap so they could flee her mobile home before it was destroyed by fire.
Diane Harris, 43, was sleeping in her home at Country Acres Mobile Home Park at 5904 142nd Ave. when the fire broke out.
She was awakened by her grandson, Trevor Letcher, allowing both to escape unhurt, Graafschap Fire Chief Cal Haverdink said.
Haverdink said he believed the young boy saved his grandmother's life.
"If he didn't wake her up, they would both be dead right now," Haverdink said, "He was too young to get out on his own."
When Harris opened her eyes the trailer was already filled with thick, black smoke. Harris grabbed her grandson and ran next door to Letcher's house.
An hour after the fire, Harris was too shaken up to talk.
"I'm just happy that everybody is safe," said Harris' daughter, Jessica Letcher, 23, while fighting back tears.
By the time fire units from Graafschap and Overisel Township arrived just after 1 p.m., the fire had spread too far to save the home, Haverdink said.
A 1994 Pontiac Grand Am and mobile home belonging to a neighbor, Carolyn Roberts, 26, were damaged in the fire as well. The east wall of her mobile home was warped and all the windows cracked by the heat.
"I don't know what these kids are going to do," said Roberts' mother, Roberta Daszkowski. "This is their only transportation. She has two children. The youngest one has allergies and asthma and has to go to the hospital a couple of times a week."
Roberts and her son were not able to stay in their home because of the smoke damage.
Letcher said her mother also didn't have insurance on her mobile home because she was unable to find a carrier willing to cover a 1986 model.
Haverdink said the cause of the fire was undetermined.
