An Iowa Girl Scout saves family in a house fire, and it’s all thanks to her Girl Scout training. 9-year-old Khloe Keeling saved her whole family and their 6 pets when their home caught fire. To recognize her efforts, her Girl Scouts gave her the highest honor they could — the Bronze Cross.

Since 1913, only 25 people, including young Khloe, have ever been given this national award. 

Girl Scout Saves Family from House Fire

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When the fire broke out in her bedroom, everyone was asleep, and Khloe was calm. She explained what was happening and instructed her parents on what to do. 

“She was like, ‘Grab Bandit. Do this. Do that,’” her mother, Niki Whitney, said. “I can’t even tell you what all she said because we just did it. We filed out, and as we were filing out, then the alarms started going off.”

It’s All Thanks to Girl Scouts 

Khloe learned about fire safety when a firefighter visited their troop one day. The firefighter, John Kerr, was blown away that Khloe listened to what he had to say and later applied it in action. 

A Very Rare Honor

In order to qualify for the Bronze Cross a girl scout must have saved another person’s life “under circumstances that indicate heroism or risk to their own lives and who have performed heroic acts beyond the degree of maturity and training to be expected at their age.” 

Sadly, Khloe and her family lost most of their belongings, including her Girl Scout sash, in the fire. At a surprise ceremony, her troop gave her a brand-new sash with the award pinned to it. 

This situation shows how important it is that children know what to do in an emergency. Without Khloe’s awareness, calmness, and quick thinking, her family's story could have been different. 

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“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

WATCH: 9-Year-Old Girl Scout Honored for Quick Thinking During House Fire 

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h/t: KCCI

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/KCCI

Michaela Gordoni is an avid reader and part-time globe-trotter. With a bachelor's degree in International Relations and experience in the non-profit world, she has a passion for people and reporting. You can check out her portfolio here.