Girl Who Rescued Family From Fire Dies

A 14-year-old girl who rescued her young siblings and grandfather from a fire in their home two days before Christmas has died of injuries she suffered after returning to save her pets.

Jennifer Olson died Saturday in San Pablo Hospital. She never regained consciousness after firefighters found her in a smoke-filled bedroom at the family’s Alameda home.

Jennifer led her 3-year-old sister, three brothers, ages 2, 5 and 6, and her grandfather to safety after the younger children accidentally started the fire. Lt. David LeMoine of the Alameda Fire Department said Jennifer “did all the right things” when she led her relatives to safety.