VERO BEACH, Fla. — Rose Swiszowski, 94, doused a fire that had engulfed a cigarette disposal receptacle and two chairs at the St. Francis Manor retirement community on Oct. 16, according to TCoastTalk.
Swiszowski, standing 4 feet 7 inches tall, was returning to her St. Francis apartment when she saw the blaze.
“If it was a bonfire, I thought it was odd no one was around,” she said.
Swiszowski alerted other residents, went to her apartment, and returned with a pitcher of water. She went back again for a bucket of flour, which she figured would have a better effect,
“It didn’t occur to me there was a fire extinguisher outside my door,” she said. “I wonder if I would have been able to handle it anyhow.”
Other residents helped in a similar manner and called 911. Firefighters arrived to extinguish the flames completely and will make a presentation to Swiszowski to reward her assistance.