Wirrabara youngster Joshua Mason, 11, has been hailed as a hero by local CFS volunteers, after his swift action helped save the family home from being razed by fire.

“It sounded like someone clearing their throat, the dogs started to bark, the computer shut down and there was smoke everywhere,” he said.

Joshua rushed to the kitchen, saw the stove top ablaze and quickly grabbed the fire blanket from under the sink, throwing it on the flames.

He took the family’s three dogs outside and picked up a cage with a sick rabbit, carrying it out of harms way, before going for help.

Local CFS captain Greg Pech found the lad’s initiative and composure astonishing, not just because of his age, but because young Joshua has been alternating between using crutches and a wheelchair since January, as a result of complications from a motor cycle accident which broke his leg.

Joshua and his mum Kim live in an idyllic rural setting on the outskirts of the Wirrabara township with no close neighbours.

“I don’t drive and I had run up to the shop for a few things. I’d left Joshua at home – he’s very responsible and sensible and we’re just a kilometre out of the town,” Kim said.

There had been a wheelchair on hospital loan, but Kim had returned it thinking it wasn’t fair to keep it when others might have a greater need.

“And he was getting around fairly well on his crutches.”

Using those crutches to manoeuvre himself about the house when the fire broke out, Joshua then went looking for his mum and for help.

“He was almost all the way in to the town and had walked a kilometre on his crutches. Someone even drove past him, but didn’t stop,” Kim said.

“A friend was bringing me home and we saw him on the road. I was a bit surprised and thought the worst.

“He started crying and said the house was on fire, and when we got back, the wall behind the stove was all flames. I tried to put it out with some water, but it wasn’t any use.”

The fire put the phone out of commission so Kim’s friend returned to Wirrabara to raise the alarm.

“I wish I didn’t have a broken leg when I went for help,” Joshua said.

“My armpits were hurting and my chest was hurting and I thought about having a rest, but I couldn’t.”

CFS volunteers quickly put the fire out, climbing into the roof to make sure it was completely extinguished.

“I consider the brave actions of the lad saved extensive damage to the house. He really slowed the fire down with the fire blanket, and he used his initiative to save the family pets,” Mr Pech said.