Officials: Mother, 3-year-old rescued after becoming trapped in Suitland, Md. house fire

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (ABC7) — Fire crews saved a mother and her 3-year-old daughter after they became trapped on the second floor of a Suitland, Maryland house that caught on fire Monday morning, authorities said.

The Prince George's Fire Department reports as crews were battling the fire in the 3900 block of Coach Lane, Captain Russell Poe heard a scream and found the mother and child in a closed bedroom. As heat and smoke began to seep into the room, the captain stayed with the pair until the other firefighters, who were only moments away, could help rescue them. During that time period, the captain gave his air mask to the child, the department confirmed.

"Intense heat and thick smoke consumed the top floor. Poe alerted other firefighters of his location and that he located two occupants. Realizing additional firefighters were still responding to the scene and moments away Poe sheltered-in-place with the two occupants and provided his air mask to the 3-year-old female to assist with her breathing. Despite having a closed door the heat and smoke inside the room was increasing from the fire which was located almost directly below them in an adjacent room," Prince George's County Fire Department stated in a press release given to ABC7.

The mother and daughter were taken to a hospital and are expected to make a full recovery. Furthermore, officials say a dog was also rescued that is expected to be okay.

Officials say the fire started on the first floor of the home from an improperly discarded cigarette and the family wasn't alerted because the only smoke alarm found in the house was 20 years old and was no longer working. Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years, according to PGPD.

Additional details were not immediately available.