Dramatic audio released of Md. fire

By Manny Fantis
WUSA9

TEMPLE HILLS, Md. — Fire officials released dramatic 9-1-1 tapes on Monday of a Prince George's County fire on Sunday evening.

Firefighters were called out to the blaze at around 8:15 p.m., on the 3200 block of Beaumont Street. Two people were inside in the house when neighbors jumped in to help out, officials said.

"According to a witness report and a Fire/Department interview, we have learned that Mr. Gene Ward knocked on the door of the neighbors house at 3233 Beaumont Street and advised them their neighbors house was on fire at 3229 Beaumont Street. At that point Mr. Gene Ward and Mr. DeMitrius Handon ran over to 3229 Beaumont and were informed by the female owner Donna Musser and her son Chris that her husband was still trapped inside on the stairwell," officials said.

9-1-1 operators are being commended as well by Prince George's County fire officials for smoothly communicating information that may have saved lives.

"This information was ... passed along to responding firefighters by way of two way radio. Also of note is the relatively calm manner in which citizens remained when providing information to the call takers," officials said.

Republished with permission from WUSA9