Mayor Jeff Lehman presented Kaitlyn Soules with the Award of Merit for bravery during Monday's council meeting.
"Kaitlyn's act of bravery and quick thinking resulted in saving the lives of her family," Lehman said. "Otherwise this could have been a major tragedy.
Lehman said it was a terrifying situation and Kaitlyn showed level-headedness when she woke up last June to the smell of smoke in her Highview Road home.
Kaitlyn, who was 12-years-old at the time, acted quickly and ran and woke up her dad and two brothers who all escaped unhurt.
Her home was destroyed by the blaze.
"We created the Award of Merit to recognize acts of incredible bravery that save lives and Kaitlyn you are a very, very deserving recipient," said Lehman.
Barrie Fire Chief Bill Boyes came to council to acknowledge Kaitlyn and give her a replica fire helmet.
Kaitlyn is now 13-years-old and in grade eight.
"I was so surprised," the articulate teen said afterwards. "It almost brought me to tears to get an award from the Mayor."
She's planning on being either a firefighter or a police officer and is proud of her actions that morning.
"I was kinda scared because our house was on fire but you just gotta stay cool and get everyone out safely," she said.
Her father Dennis was a hero himself for saving two children in a fire 2013 at the White Towers Motel in Barrie.
He credits his daughter's bravery, composure and smarts for executing the family's fire plan.
"Our fire plan was whoever notices, wake the others up and get out to the tree in the front yard and we still, to this day, practice is once a month at our new home," the proud father said.
"Obviously she kept calm and cool for 12. When she woke me up I was going crazy and she said 'Dad calm down, follow the plan, follow the plan' so she kept me cool."
Soules says Kaitlyn is the one that makes sure that he checks their smoke and CO alarms too.
"I do think I'm a hero because I saved my whole entire family and I'm glad that I did," Kaitlyn said.
