Rocky Mount teen honored for saving siblings from house fire

Rocky Mount, N.C. — When her home caught fire five months ago, a Rocky Mount teen put her own safety aside and hurried to rescue four of her younger brothers and sisters.

"I would risk my life for them," 14-year-old Taniya Wiggins said Monday, hours before she was honored for her heroism at a Rocky Mount City Council Meeting.

Wiggins lived at 927 Stokes Street with her mother and seven siblings. She was home with five of her brothers and sisters Jan. 5 when food cooking on the stove burst into flames.

Wiggins' mother, Tiffany Carter, had left for a quick trip to the store when the blaze began.

"I just thank God that (Taniya) was thinking to get her brothers and sisters out," Carter said.

Wiggins saved four of her siblings – ages 12, 6, 3 and 11 months – but she couldn't get to 5-year-old Taylor before firefighters arrived. They found the girl on the floor of her bedroom three minutes after arriving at the scene.

"Looking back, it's almost like an out-of-body experience – thinking that we did that and we were there," said firefighter Bradford Price, who rushed Taylor Wiggins to safety. Price and several other firefighters were also honored by the city Monday evening.

The child spent two months at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, but has since recovered and returned home.

Taniya Wiggins said she wouldn't hesitate to give up everything for the people she loves.

"(I just thought) about my little brothers and sisters first," she said. "I know I did the best I could."

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awood, I know they're firefighters. I was responding to a question of why she looked like she was being arrested and identified the uniforms as "police-LOOKING," not "police." They *look* similar to police uniforms. And if your annoyance is over suspected racism, I'm not perpetrating it. I was acknowledging a too common happening in society and how the photo easily falls in line w/ that assumption. I wasn't condoning it.

jackflash123
June 12, 2012 1:44 p.m.

If I'm ever faced with the same situation you faced, I hope I can find your courage and do as you did. You are an inspiration to us all.

lsdhome
June 12, 2012 12:43 p.m.

"Only if its the right kind of extinguisher......a fire blanket is better for fat fires as described. The wrong kind of extinguisher can make things much worse."

ABC rated fire extinguisher.

ALL HAIL ME
June 12, 2012 12:18 p.m.

I know Mommie is proud of her but where is Daddy he should be just as happe that his daughter did are best to save all of his children. that was a job well done

sunshine1040
June 12, 2012 11:31 a.m.

"Why does it look like she is being arrested?"

I'd love to scold you for that, but unfortunately, the sight of a young African-American flanked by police-looking uniforms too often DOES mean that.

Developmentally, teens are often self-absorbed. It's not as inherently selfish and bad as when adults are self-absorbed b/c it's developmentally appropriate to be focused on yourself at certain points in life, but it makes it that much cooler that this young woman acted so heroically and selflessly in this case.

If you would have watched it on TV you would know that they are firefighters standing there not police officers! Get a life.

awood2
June 12, 2012 10:48 a.m.