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Boy's Bad Dream Saves Homeowners From Nightmare

News Channel 8 photo by INDIRA LEVINE

Early Sunday morning, Bradley helped protect the lives of three families when he alerted his father, Brian Pollett that there was a fire in front of their home.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 1, 2008

Updated: 06/01/2008 04:14 pm

TAMPA - A 6-year-old boy who tumbled out of bed early this morning spotted a neighbor's vacant house on fire, allowing his father to alert residents in adjacent homes where the fire was spreading.

In the eyes of his father, the homeowners and neighbors, Bradley Pollett is a hero.

Bradley, though, shakes his head when asked if he thinks he's a hero.

The fire at 3817 W. San Pedro St. in South Tampa started in a motor home parked in the driveway. By the time Bradley spotted it about 2:45 a.m., flames were spreading to the house itself.

Bradley was having a bad dream when he fell out of bed, he said. He asked his father, Brian Pollett, for a drink of water. Then he saw flames across the street.

"I was sleeping and waked up and saw the fire got bigger and bigger," Bradley said.

He learned about fires during a recent visit to a fire station.

While Bradley's mother called 911, Brian Pollett ran to the houses on either side of the fire.

"I went out and started knocking on neighbors' doors," he said. "Everybody was sound asleep."

Josh and Jennifer Farrell were awakened by Brian Pollett's cries of "Fire, fire," and were able to get their two children out of the house even as heat from flames melted plastic shutters on their house.

Josh Farrell was confident if the fire had burned another 10 or 15 minutes before firefighters arrived, the houses on both sides would have caught on fire.

"Thanks, Bradley. We appreciate it," Josh Farrell said.

Firefighters arrived at the house at 3:01 a.m. — about eight minutes after the 911 call, Tampa Fire Rescue said. The fire was under control in about 20 minutes.

The empty house is owned by Ronald and Mary Bynum, 61, of San Antonio. The fire started in the 1996 motor home in the driveway, though investigators have not determined the cause.

The fire department said the blaze caused about $50,000 in damage to the motor home and $60,000 in damage to the house.

About 24 firefighters from four stations responded, along with four engines and a ladder truck.

Mary Bynum said the family lost nearly everything in the house except for a few items moved to their new home in Pasco County.

Still, she said, it could have been worse if Bradley had not noticed the fire.

"I guess we will be indebted to Bradley forever. He's a hero, no doubt about it," she said.

Bradley's father agreed.

"He's quite the little hero this morning," Pollett said.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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