13-Year-Old Directs Firefighters in Dramatic Rescue
Boy's 11-minute 911 call shows boy keeping calm, comforting younger sister.
— -- A 13-year-old Maryland boy flawlessly directed firefighters through their burning home to the room where he and his young sister were, all the while calming the little girl and checking on his family, all caught on tape in an 11-minute 911 call.
Thanks to the boy's clear-headed call, the two children were rescued from the fire that broke out in in their Clinton, Maryland, home early Sunday morning. Prince George's County Police released today the incredible 11 minute 911 call from the dramatic rescue.
Marcus, 13, immediately found the smoke and called 911, PIO Assistant Chief Alan Doubleday told ABC News. From the audio you can hear the incredible work from the 911 dispatcher and Marcus, who manages to stay calm while taking direction from the dispatcher.
At various times in the call, Marcus calls out to his family to make sure everyone is OK. He tells the dispatcher he is in the home with his older brother, mother and step-father, as well as his 9-year-old sister.
At one point, the sister says "We're going to die!" and Marcus responds "Stop! Please don't say that!"
Marcus calmly explains exactly how the fire fighters can get to him.
"Go up the steps right in the back hallways. It's a black door to the right," Marcus tells the dispatcher.
"Aaliyah stay low to the door. Come here. Breath. Stay right here," Marcus says to his younger sister.
"They're coming. It's OK," the dispatcher tells Marcus.
When fire fighters arrived, they broke the wrong window at first to rescue the children.
"No, they go to the next one. It's the very next one to the right," Marcus tells the dispatcher.
Fire Lt. Kevin Ward, a 25-year veteran with the Prince George's County Fire Department, got to the scene and immediately went upstairs into the room to rescue Marcus. Ward was in the process of rescuing the boy when he felt Marcus' little sister tugging at his leg, and he immediately took his air mask off and put it on her.
Marcus and his sister were treated at Children's Hospital for smoke inhalation, Doubleday said. The three adults were taken to MedStar. All injuries appear to be non-life-threatening.
The dispatcher, fire department and Marcus are all being called heroes tonight.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Doubleday said the fire appears to have started in the area of a computer desk. The fire is not considered suspicious.
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