Kaleigh, 8, with brother Matthew, and parents Karen and Brian. ~Photo by Andrew Firestone

 

By Andrew Firestone

Kaleigh Kosta was commended by none other than the Board of Alderman of Somerville, last Thursday, July 14, receiving a citation for helping her family when her home caught fire. While Kaleigh, 8, had already received citations from the Mayor, and the Fire Marshall of the state, the city itself recognized her for her quick thinking and sense of responsibility.

When the Brown School student was awakened by a fire alarm in her house, she remembered the fire education she received in her first grade class by Lt. Michael Anzalone, who said he was very proud of her responsible actions. “When the fire alarm went off, she was asleep, and I woke her up out of bed,” said Kaleigh’s mother, Karen.  “As she was putting on her shoes, she asked ‘have you called 911?’”

President Rebekah Gewirtz reads a commendation to Kaleigh Kosta for her emergency awareness. ~Photo by Andrew Firestone

Later, when the authorities arrived, Kaleigh demonstrated her knowledge again. “I said ‘we have to go stand some place’,” said Karen, “because the fire trucks were showing up, and she said ‘that’s our meeting place, let’s go stand there.’” Kaleigh, who had helped mark the meeting place, was responsible for getting her whole family over there to relative safety, including her grandmother and infant brother, Matthew.

Kayleigh said she was a little scared, but she knew what to do because of her classroom lessons. For her diligence, she received a commendation for her work by President Rebekah Gewirtz of the BOA, and congratulations from the rest of the board.