They learned their lesson well.

The four young children of Thom and Tara Slaski knew just what to do when their Lynn Township home caught fire just before midnight Aug. 2.

Hunter, 9; Hayden, 7; Harper, 5; and their sister Reagan, 3; ran out the front of their home and met in a predesignated location when a fire broke out in the garage at the back of their house.

“The kids knew where to meet outside,” Lynnport Fire Chief Clark Mantz told The Press. “They all went to the predetermined spot.

“They had a thought-out plan.”

Tara Slaski spoke with The Press last Friday as she was airing out salvaged blankets, bedding and clothes on the deck railing.

“Thom heard the alarm and screamed into the house,” Tara said.

She said the kids were having a family campout in the basement (the lower level room in the back) where there was air-conditioning.

Both the parents’ and children’s bedrooms were heavily damaged by the fire.

“Our kids would have been dead [if they had been in their bedrooms],” Thom said.

He also explained how such young children could have responded so well in an emergency and evacuated the home in a safe and orderly manner.

“We heat with wood and, years ago, Tara insisted we have a plan,” Thom said.

If there were a fire at the back of the home, the youngsters were to run out the front.

With a fire at the front of the home, they were to run out the back.

Each scenario had a designated meeting place for the family.

Thanks to the efforts of firefighters and Chief Mantz, whom Thom called a hero, most of the home was saved from destruction.

“We hit the garage fire with the Lynnport Fire Company deck gun,” Mantz explained.

“We sent guys in the front door [two at a time with airpacks] to take care of the inside.”

Mantz said some 40 to 50 firefighters from Lynnport, New Tripoli, Germansville, Kempton, Weisenberg, Kutztown and Neffs battled the blaze.

South Whitehall Township’s Woodlawn Fire Company brought its cascade unit to fill the airpacks and Alburtis sent its Rapid Intervention Team in case a firefighter should run into trouble inside the home.

Cetronia Ambulance Corps sent two ambulances and its rehab unit.

The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to assist the family.

“The American Cross responded to a fire in 7300 block of Surf Drive, Lynn Township,” the Red Cross stated in an email to The Press. “We assisted one family of six people total.

“We will continue to assess the needs of those impacted and provide assistance as needed.”

Met-Ed responded to shut off electricity to the home.

“The fire started in the garage area and was fully involved when firefighters arrived,” Mantz said. “The fronts and windshields of the two vehicles parked outside the garage were damaged.”

A 4-wheeler, zero-turn lawn mower and all of Thom’s tools were destroyed in the fire, Mantz said.

Mantz said they were able to quickly knock down the fire.

Water was taken from the dry hydrant at the pond in Slateville.

“New Tripoli and Kempton went to fill their tankers,” Mantz said. “Weisenberg never emptied theirs.

“It was a quick knock-down, actually.”

Mantz said State Police Fire Marshal Mike Book visited the scene.

The cause of the fire was undetermined pending the outcome of the investigation, Mantz said.

Firefighters were able to return to their stations around 4 a.m. Aug. 3, four hours after the initial 911 call.

Firefighters from four companies were again called out to the home the day after the fire when a small area reignited.

“Workers were boarding up the windows when they noticed a small area burning,” Mantz said,

Mantz asked to thank all the firefighters who responded and who were able to quickly control the fire and save most of the home.