Young Heroes Save Family From Fire
Blaze destroys North Miami house as kids help grandmother and baby escape
NBCMiami.com
A Miami-Dade firefighter surveys the scene after a fire gutted a house after a family was able to escape.
Three young children helped their family escape their North Miami home Sunday night, moments before it was destroyed by fire.
Levinson, Ralph and Charlene Calixte were watching television in their home at 1208 Northeast 144th Street when somehow a fire sparked near the electrical cords in their bedroom. But instead of running out of the house, they decided to try to stop the fire before it got out of control.
"We ran to the kitchen to get buckets of water to pour on it," said Charlene Calixte.
After trying to douse the fire with the water, the kids realized their efforts were no match for this fire. They knew it was time to get out, but they still had to help their grandmother, who was babysitting a 7-month-old baby at the time, escape.
"My grandma kept going inside with the smoke and the fire and kept coming out coughing," said Ralph.
Charlene got the baby and brought her out to safety. "She gave me the baby to hold and told me to run out," she said. "I'm kinda in shock but actually happy that I made it out alive."
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived shortly after. Smoke and flames were still pouring out of the windows. Everyone made it out alive, but the house is a total loss.
The American Red Cross was on the scene to help the Calixte family. They will stay with relatives for the time being and accept food and clothes from the Red Cross until they get back on their feet.
Posted Monday, Jun 21, 2010 - 7:27 AM EST
