The fabulous five from Peacehaven Community School who saved residents from a fire have told The Argus how they managed to act so swiftly and calmly in such a potentially a dangerous situation.

As a result of being involved in a real life drama, three of the students also admitted they are now considering a career in the fire service once they leave school.

The Year 8 students at Peacehaven Community School, Ethan Pearson, Akosua G’yasi-Addo, Yasmin Slattery, Honey Robinson-Wood and Joe Durrant were on their way to their local park after school when they heard a woman shouting and smoke starting to billow from a block of flats in Balcombe Road, Peacehaven.

Akosua recalled how “we could smell loads of smoke” prompting her, Yasmin and Joe to enter the building, despite their understandable fears.

Joe knocked on the first door to start getting people out of the building, alerting a woman, who had her baby and dog with her.

The students carried on knocking on different doors to help evacuate the building and Yasmin then phoned the police and fire brigade.

The group helped direct members of the public and their school friends who were walking past the building to the other side of the road to ensue their safety, despite being scared of the situation themselves.

Since the group’s heroic actions, they have been called heroes by other youngsters at the school.

They said: “We do get approached by teachers saying well done and kids are calling us firefighters.”

After the dramatic events, the students have all reconsidered what they want to do when they are older.

Three of the five said they may well consider becoming firefighters when it comes to choosing a career, and the remaining two are showing an interest in law and police work.

Austin Hindman, the headteacher of Peacehaven Community School, commended the quick-thinking students for what they did.

He added: “We are all so proud of them. They did themselves and the school proud.

“They acted selflessly to protect other people, showing real courage at a very stressful time.”

It is now back to normal for them as they continue their studies, but the memories of what they did will no doubt linger for a long time.