Md. Father Flips Car, Sprints Home To Save Kids In House Fire

LARGO, Md. (WJZ)—A Maryland father did just about everything to save his kids after their home went up in the flames on Wednesday morning.

Carlo Pettigrew, a father of two, was at a parent –teacher conference when his daughter called to say their house was on fire.

WJZ's Mike Schuh has the latest.

13-year-old Corbin and 7-year-old Carson were home alone when Corbin says she heard smoke detectors going off.

In an interview with WUSA9 Corbin says, "I come downstairs and there's a big fire and I'm freaking out. I don't know what to do, my phone is downstairs, my dog is downstairs, she says.

Corbin then runs down the street to their uncle's house to call her father.

Pettigrew recounts the horrific emergency with his daughter.

"'There's a fire in the house,' and I think she said 'we're in the house,'" said Pettigrew.

During the race to save his family from the burning home, Pettigrew lost control and flipped his vehicle after he hit two curbs.

But that didn't stop him.

Pettigrew, believing his kids are still inside, then sprints a half mile to his home located in the 100 block of Old Enterprise Road in Largo.

READ MORE: Man sped, sprinted to fire because he 'wasn't ready' to lose his kids

"Everything was in slow motion. I just thought about my kids. And that I was going to lose my children and I wasn't ready for that," said Pettigrew.

The fire that began in the first-floor living room, was quickly spreading, as Pettigrew raced into the home to save his kids.

Corbin joked saying, "I was really glad. I was just worried about my mom because she's more crazy than my dad."

The whole family has since been reunited but are receiving temporary assistance due to severity of the damage from the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.