11-year-old's phone call from inside burning home leads to his rescue
Pittsburgh firefighters responded to house fire on Leslie Street in Ingram
Pittsburgh firefighters responded to house fire on Leslie Street in Ingram
Pittsburgh firefighters responded to house fire on Leslie Street in Ingram
An 11-year-old boy's phone call from inside his burning home led to his rescue Monday night in Ingram Borough.
Firefighters with Pittsburgh's Bureau of Fire, which is contracted to cover the area, responded to Leslie Street around 10:45 p.m. and found the boy's mother outside.
"The child called his mother on her cell phone from his cell phone, told her exactly where he was," said Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones. "He had crawled into a cupboard, the door closed behind him, and he was locked in."
The fire battalion chief on the scene had the mother tell the child to bang on the walls so crews could find him. They rescued him, and he was taken to the hospital, Jones said, noting the boy was conscious and alert.
"We were all just on edge, worrying and praying, I prayed for the safety of the firemen and the child," said neighbor Brenda Priddy-Sangma. "I was terrified for the family."
Jones said this case also highlights the need to have an emergency action plan, including a way out of your home in a situation like this, and having a meeting point outside.
"The critical mistake that may have been made here was running to hide as opposed to leaving the building," he said. "We don't want kids to run and hide, because they all have their secret hiding spots inside their houses. We want you to get out of the building."
Jones praised the work of his crews and the extensive training they undergo.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
