A NINE-year-old girl has been hailed a heroine by firefighters after a blaze drama at a Rastrick flat.

Quick-thinking Emma Lewis spotted smoke spiralling out of a window at the upstairs flat on Bridge End at 2.20pm.

Emma, who lives on the same road, ran to tell her mum who dialled 999.

But Emma then sprinted to the end of the street and waited for the fire engines to arrive so she could guide them straight to the flat.

Her actions saved vital minutes and meant firefighters could quickly deal with a pan accidentally left on the cooker.

Sub-officer Pete Rushby, of Elland fire station, said: "Emma was very thoughtful and did an excellent job.

"By alerting us so quickly and then waiting for us, it meant we could deal with the pan quickly and prevent damage."

He added: "Brighouse firefighters would normally have been sent to this location, but they were out dealing with an incident in Cleckheaton.

"That meant we were sent along with crews from Huddersfield and we do not know the area so well.

"Emma was a great help. There are bollards blocking off roads in that area, but thanks to Emma we didn't get stuck behind them. She guided us straight to the flat."

The couple who live in the flat had gone out and accidentally left a pan on the oven with meat in it.

A firefighter climbed through the flat window and lifted the pan off the oven.