‘We can’t breathe’: 911 call released after siblings rescued from apartment fire

CHARLOTTE — Newly released 911 calls paint a clearer picture of the chaotic moments before two children were rescued from their southwest Charlotte apartment Tuesday evening after it caught fire.

The fire broke out around 7 p.m. on Rose Thorn Place near Pressley Road and Barringer Drive. Dozens of firefighters responded to the scene to get the flames under control.

Channel 9 learned that 11-year-old Tyshayla called 911 to report the fire as she and her 6-year-old brother, Hampton, stood by a bedroom window waiting to be rescued.

“The house is on fire, help please,” Tyshayla said to the 911 dispatcher.

The dispatcher can then be heard reassuring the children that firefighters were on their way to the apartment before asking if they were trapped inside.

“We can’t see anything. Everything is burning,” she said. “We’re inside.”

(Click the video below to listen to the 911 call)

911 CALL: Dispatcher tries to keep child caller calm during apartment fire 911 CALL: Dispatcher tries to keep child caller calm during apartment fire

A few moments later, the 911 dispatcher is heard asking if the kids can get to the window and if anyone else was with them.

“Everyone else is gone,” Tyshayla said. “It’s just me and my brother, hurry.”

“Are you injured,” the dispatcher said.

“No, not yet,” the girl responded.

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She then went on to let the dispatcher know the fire was not yet in the room but was getting closer.

“It hasn’t gotten to the door but there’s a lot of smoke and we can’t breathe,” she said.

In the call you can hear the kids yelling “Help” out the window as sirens approach.

Within minutes, firefighters were there and used a ladder to rescue the two children.

The Charlotte Fire Department later posted a photo to their Twitter page saying the kids were doing OK.

Tyshayla told the dispatcher that her mother was at work when the fire broke out.

We talked to her mother Wednesday. She told us she is proud of her daughter and thankful for the firefighters who rescued her children.

Paramedics said they evaluated eight people with minor injuries at the scene but no one was taken to a hospital.

Six people were displaced.

A CATS bus was on scene to help people stay out of the elements. It was rainy and cold when the blaze happened.

Investigators said the fire was caused by unattended cooking, and resulted in $15,000 in damage.

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