Oceanside

A 5-year-old boy, with the presence of mind to call 911, saved his own life and that of his 2-year-old sister early Thursday morning when fire broke out in their apartment. Their mother was later arrested for child endangerment, Police Officer Bob George said.

David Brown called the 911 emergency number at 12:38 a.m. when he noticed a smoke coming from a lamp in the apartment in the 200 block of South Weitzel Street. After making the call, the boy woke his sister, Danielle Chavarry, and led her to a stairway outside the apartment where they waited for police and fire fighters, George said.

The apartment was completely enveloped in flames by the time police and firefighters arrived, George said.

The mother, Angela Chavarry, 22, had left the children alone about 10:30 p.m. to go dancing. When she returned at 2:30 a.m., police arrested her for child endangerment, George said.

According to George, Brown told police his sister poured water on a lamp next to the mattress on the floor where they slept, starting the fire.

Damage from the fire was estimated at $5,000.

The children were taken into protective custody to Casa de Amparo. Their mother was taken to the County Jail in Vista.