A fire broke out in a Queens home around 3 a.m. today, and the growing flames prompted a mother to throw her child out of a second-floor window. NBC New York reports, "The child, described as 2 or 3 years old, landed safely in the arms of civilians who gathered on the sidewalk next to the flaming building, said Dan Delargy, one of the first FDNY responders with Ladder 155." Delargy said, "As we were getting set up, the lady couldn't wait for us and she dropped her baby out the window. She was hanging out as far as she could and there were civilians walking by and they caught the baby."
Firefighters also stopped a 5- or 6-year-old girl from jumping—WABC 7 says that they raised a ladder just in time. Nine people, including three firefighters, were treated for minor smoke-related injuries at the hospital.
The fire, which occurred at Rockaway Boulevard and 144th Street, is believed to be suspicious; fire officials think it was deliberately set in the public hallway.
