A BRAITHWAITE teenager has been hailed a heroine after running into a smoke-filled house to rescue a baby.

Megan Halley didn’t hesitate when the panic-stricken mum pleaded for help during the dramatic blaze on Friday.

Megan, 14, pulled her Holy Family School blazer over her head and bravely plunged inside the semi-detached house in Wardle Crescent.

She grabbed the tot – still in his car seat on the lounge sofa – and carried him to safety.

Megan, of nearby Calver Grove, handed the baby to his relieved mother then calmly called the fire brigade.

Holy Family School staff this week praised courageous Megan’s actions.

Deputy headteacher, Damian Moore, told the Keighley News Megan had shown “true bravery”.

He added: “I think we tend to believe heroes are only on TV, but I think she is a local hero we can all be proud of.”

But Megan played down her bravery, saying she had no choice but to act on the spur of the moment.

She added: “I was a bit scared, but I thought about the baby being in trouble and knew I had to go in.”

Megan had been walking with her cousin near the house – only a couple of streets from her own home – when she saw an adjoining shed was on fire.

She said: “There was smoke coming out of the house. I’ve watched programmes like Eastenders where people put jackets over their heads when there’s a fire.

“There was smoke coming into the kitchen. I ran into the living room and the baby was in a car seat on the sofa.

“I picked the car seat up and pulled it out and gave the baby to the mum. I was coughing when I came out.”

Megan’s father, Sean, was clearly proud of his daughter, saying: “I played hell with her for putting her life in danger, but she is very brave.”

A West Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman confirmed crews from Silsden and Haworth had attended the emergency at about 5.10pm on Friday.

Flames, believed to have come from an electrical appliance in the shed, had burned through the wall into the house, causing an adjacent staircase to collapse.

Occupants of the house had seen smoke coming through the wall. The fire caused significant damage to the house.

This week the exterior of the property was visibly damaged, with scorch marks up the side of the building and windows open to ventilate it.

The Keighley News was unable to contact the family before going to press.

Do you know who the family is? Contact david.knights@keighleynews.co.uk or phone David Knights on 01535 606611 extension 3.