9-Year-Old Girl Saves Family From Fire

A 9-year-old girl ushered her family to safety after a fire broke out in their Oxnard home early Saturday, causing $90,000 in damage.

The blaze started at 3:30 a.m. in the kitchen of the single-family residence in the 1300 block of Dahlia Street, said Oxnard Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike O’Malia.

A pan filled with cooking oil caught fire on a gas stove burner that had been left on. The flames swiftly spread to the living room, O’Malia said.

The girl, Ashley Mizuno, awoke in the middle of the night and went to the kitchen for a glass of water, according to O’Malia.

Smelling smoke, she alerted her sleeping family members, Sunizy Mizuno, 65; Tammy Mizuno, 38; and Lori Mizuno, 40.

“She’s being hailed a hero,” O’Malia said. “Most kids her age would have hidden, left the house or not taken action at all. That’s how most of these fire tragedies occur. But she woke up her family. That was a good job.”

Twenty firefighters put out the fire in 10 minutes.

While fleeing the fire, Lori Mizuno cut her arm breaking a window and Sunizy Mizuno burned a foot. Both were treated at the scene by firefighters.

The American Red Cross was providing shelter and clothing for the displaced family, O’Malia said.