Insurance Commissioner Causey to honor 11-year-old girl, firefighters, dispatcher who helped save lives in Charlotte fire

h Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey on Wednesday will honor an 11-year-old girl who protected her younger brother after a fire broke out in their Charlotte home in March.

The girl, Tyshala Ni’Ann Wilson, will be given the Commissioner’s Award for Heroism.

Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, will also honor the three fire educators who taught the lifesaving practices to the girl at Tuckaseegee Elementary School when she was a third grader. They are Amy Rea, Greg Francus and Christie Russel.  He will also award the firefighter who rescued the sister and brother as well as the dispatcher who communicated with her until firefighters arrived on the scene.

Emergency Management Services 911 dispatcher John Schuler talked to Tyshala on the phone during the emergency, relaying critical rescue information to Charlotte Fire Capt. Jared Lloyd.

“This story could have ended tragically, but because Tyshala had taken the fire safety class, she remained calm and was able to get her brother to safety until firefighters arrived,” Commissioner Causey said. “Firefighters save lives. Fire educators save lives. I’m so grateful for the selfless and tireless work firefighters do in Charlotte and across North Carolina.”

The fire occurred on Tuesday, March 16, when a babysitter left the house with food cooking on the stove. Tyshala called 911 to report the kitchen fire and told the dispatcher that she and her brother could not escape.

Tyshala rushed her brother to a bedroom away from the fire and gave the dispatcher critical information the firefighters used to quickly rescue them.

The three fire educators, the firefighter who rescued Tyshala and her brother and the dispatcher will be honored with SAVE Awards on Wednesday. SAVE Awards go to individuals and groups who go above and beyond the call of duty.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for the Charlotte visit: