Fire Crews Rescue Mother, 3-Year-Old From Burning Home
PRINCE GEORGE'S CO., Md. (WJZ) -- A mother and her toddler were rescued from their burning home in Prince George's County.
The fire broke out Monday morning and quickly spread to the home's second floor.
911 CALLER: "Help...(Coughing)...Help."
A mother's frantic call for help.
DISPATCHER: "Stay with me on the phone, don't hang up."
911 CALLER: "Help."
DISPATCHER: "I have the fire department on the way."
At about 9:30 a.m. Monday, emergency responders rushed to save a woman and her 3-year-old daughter from their burning Suitland home in the 3900 block of Coach Ln.
The two were trapped in a second-floor bedroom.
Crews could hear screaming from inside as flames and heavy smoke spread throughout the house. Firefighters quickly ran in to rescue them.
"At that point, I was able to go up the steps," said Captain Russell Poe, with the Prince George's County Fire Department. "At the the top of the steps I could hear screaming. I was able to open one of the bedroom doors, pushed my way in and found a mother holding her child, in smokey conditions. They were both conscious. I was able to take my mask off and give it to the child."
The woman and her child suffered smoke inhalation and respiratory distress.
They were taken to a hospital for treatment and are expected to be okay.
Investigators say the fire was accidentally started by a discarded cigarette.
Fire investigators say the smoke alarm in the house was not working, and was more than 20 years old.
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