Boy trapped in burning Pittsburgh-area home rescued after calling mom's cellphone
INGRAM, Pa. (KDKA) -- An 11-year-old boy trapped inside a burning home in Ingram used his cell phone to call his mom and help firefighters find him.
Pittsburgh firefighters said they were called to help with a fire on Leslie Street just before 10:45 p.m. When they got there, a woman said her son was trapped up on the third floor, where arriving crews had reported heavy smoke. The woman said she tried to find her son, but it was too hot, too smoky and just too dark.
The boy used his cell phone to call his mom, telling her he was in a low closet area up on the third floor, firefighters said.
The chief in command asked if the child could yell so firefighters could hear him, but his mom said he couldn't. So the chief told the mom to tell her boy to bang on the wall instead.
"Once the crews were oriented and knew where to go, they went straight to that spot," said Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones.
Crews made their way to the third floor and found the boy in a small storage closet. He was conscious and alert and was taken to medics for evaluation.
"The fact that she was outside and was able to give critical information about the house and the child's habits, that was pretty beneficial," Jones said.
Jones credits the boy with keeping his cool and having the wherewithal to call his mom.
The boy's dad wasn't home at the time of the fire but said he's thankful his entire family and their two dogs made it out safely. He called the firefighters who risked their lives to save his son heroes.
"My guys were very excited. I am so proud of them because they really work hard and they train hard and to have an opportunity for a successful outcome like this, because too often it's an unsuccessful outcome," Jones said.
Neighbor Brenda Priddy-Sangma was home when the fire happened. She said all she could do was pray as she stood by and watched in terror as thick smoke and flames poured from the windows.
"It was just very terrifying. I was never so terrified in my life," she said.
In a post on social media, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire thanked those involved in the rescue, writing, "Excellent work by all!"