Leah Matteson a hero: Pamelia 12-year-old recognized for alerting family to fire that destroyed home

May 9—PAMELIA — Leah Matteson was sleeping shortly after midnight on a Wednesday last month when a bolt of lightning struck and loud thunder crackled, waking her at her Pamelia home.

The 12-year-old's restlessness that night saved her family, and her heroic actions were recognized Thursday during the Indian River Central School District's Board of Education meeting.

Leah's father, Micah Matteson, checked in on his family during the thunder and then went back to bed in the early hours of April 10. But Leah was restless and couldn't sleep.

Lightning had struck a nearby camper and fire spread quickly to the Matteson garage, fully engulfing it.

Between 2 and 3 a.m. Leah noticed an orange glow out of her window. She walked into her kitchen and saw the blazing garage.

Leah said she woke up her family and carried one of her siblings. The family exited out of the back door of their house and went to their neighbor's. Within 10 minutes, the Matteson house, 25337 Hinds Road, was engulfed. The house was destroyed.

"We didn't think much about the stuff, the house, any of that stuff. It was more about getting our kids out of the house and getting them to safety," Mr. Matteson said.

He said they were "blessed" to not get hurt.

"It stinks losing your stuff, and losing your house and your memories and all that. But really the fact that my kids are safe and my wife is safe, I was actually at peace," he said.

Michelle Matteson, Leah's mom, called her daughter "a rockstar."

"We were super proud of her," she said.

Mr. Matteson said that it was awesome that Leah had the presence of mind to know what to do.

The Mattesons are urging people to do fire drills at home so they are prepared.

James Blackburn, a social studies and fire life and safety educator at Indian River, said seeing one of his students execute what he teaches is "amazing."

"That's one of the biggest things that I think about is how do I effectively get that point across to the families, which is one of the biggest things I stress at the beginning of the program is the home/school connection," he said.

Leah said she learned about fire safety through her fire safety class, taught by Blackburn.

Leah was presented with several awards Thursday, including Mr. BB's Fire, Life and Safety Program Lifesaver Award, a citation from Assemblyman Scott A. Gray's office, a Senate commendation award from Sen. Mark C. Walczyk's office, the Empire State Award and a letter from U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik.

"I was very thankful and grateful to all the people who showed up to give me awards this afternoon," Leah said.

Mr. BB's Fire, Life, and Safety Program Lifesaver Award is the highest honor given out by Blackburn for the Mattesons' lifesaving moves.

"I want them to be the example for everybody," Blackburn said.

Blackburn said people should have two ways to get out of every room, escape ladders if on the second floor, and a designated meeting place. Practice is the best thing people can do, Blackburn said.

He said he puts together a packet of information each year for students.

"When I hear the stories that people take that stuff and actually use it effectively, it's like being a proud papa all the time," Blackburn said.

Blackburn also received a tribute from the state for his educating efforts in teaching students fire safety.

"It feels good actually because it affirms what I'm doing. I can say at the end of the day that I really do take that job seriously and I appreciate it," he said.

Leah said she found out Thursday during school that she would be receiving these accolades.

"I was really excited," she said.

The community support "means a lot" she added.

"It definitely is kind of shocking to me how many people are reaching out to us and how many people are trying to help," after the fire, she said.

Leah said learning about the meeting point in Blackburn's class was vital, something the family had practiced.

"We knew what to do," she said.

Mr. and Mrs. Matteson said they are proud of what their daughter did and they hope Leah inspires other children to have conversations with their parents about what to do in the event of a fire.

"Because, at the end of the night, it's what made a difference," Mrs. Matteson said.

The school has given the family Indian River clothing and the family is living in a rental home. They plan to rebuild on the same property.

Leah plans to hang the awards up in her room.