Fire fatal for mother, two children

CHARLOTTE Charlotte Fire Dept PIO Capt Rob Brisley says just after 1 a.m. the first of three calls into the Charlotte Fire 911 center reported an apartment on fire at the Silver Oak Apartments.

When firefighters arrived, the 2-story apartment was already engulfed in flames.

Officials say the mother, 36-year-old Yolanda Denise Gipson, was pronounced dead at the scene and her two children, 13-year-old Deja Gipson and 2-year-old Destiny Gipson, died later at a hospital.

According to police, the woman's 18-year-old son escaped the blaze unharmed and called 911.

Officials say the fire began in the kitchen due to food that was left unattended cooking on the stove.