The quick thinking of a young Muscatine girl helped save a family’s home and possibly their lives. For her efforts, Isabelle Maresca received the Meritorious Civilian Award by Muscatine Fire Chief Jerry Ewers during the Muscatine City Council meeting Thursday, September 5th.
On Wednesday, June 12th, 2019, the Muscatine Fire Department responded to 410 Park Drive for a report of a structure on fire. An interview of the family after the fire found that the quick thinking and actions of Maresca contributed to reducing damage to the home and the safety of her family. Isabella’s mother, Myrna Maresca, left a pan containing hot grease on the stove while cooking dinner. The hot grease caught fire during the time the stove was unattended.
Maresca learned critical fire safety skills from the Muscatine Fire Department education program. She retrieved a fire extinguisher and brought it to her mother, who extinguished the fire before it fully extended into the cabinets, causing more damage or the total loss of the residence. “This quick response not only saved the fire from becoming out of control with a residential ABC extinguisher, it may also have saved the lives of people not aware of the fire in the home,” Ewers said.
