Published: February 14, 2008 10:37 am      

Teen honored for saving sisters

Girl stayed calm after lightning starts fire

A teenager at Kingman, Ind., who herded her siblings from a fire at their home was honored Wednesday by the Fountain County Emergency Medical Services and the Kingman Volunteer Fire Department.

Meggan Coles, 15, a sophomore at Fountain Central High School, was surprised with a plaque during her morning computer class.

“Not every day do you see a young person step up to the plate,” said Bryan Lanham of the Fountain County EMS. “I am very thankful she got her sisters out.”

Her parents, Mary and Peter Coles, knew about the plaque, but it was a complete surprise to Meggan. In addition, the family received a monetary contribution.

“We wanted to recognize her,” Lanham said.

Coles and her sisters were home alone shortly after 8 p.m. EST on Feb. 5 when lightning struck their home just outside Kingman. She got her sisters out and then went back in the house to call 911.

“I just did it,” Coles said. “I was concerned about my three sisters. I forgot to put shoes and a coat on. We would have been out in the cold if our neighbors hadn’t brought a car for us to get in.”

The girls’ parents were at work when the fire broke out.

Kingman Fire Chief Allen Brown estimated the damage to the two-story wood frame home at $15,000. The family is able to continue to live in the home.

“I am very thankful they all got out,” said Lanham. “She had a good calm level head. You just don’t often see that in a young person.”

Brown said the fire department got the call at 8:21 p.m. and arrived at 8:26 p.m. They were on the scene until 9:53 p.m.

“They are able to live in the home,” Brown said.