Baby Thrown From Window During Fire

[MalahatTwo7]

Baby Thrown To Safety From Apartment Fire. 5 Others Hospitalized

POSTED: 6:06 am EST January 31, 2008
UPDATED: 6:20 am EST January 31, 2008

WHEATON, Md. -- Montgomery County fire investigators are trying to figure out what caused a fire to break out at an apartment building in Wheaton on Wednesday night.

The fire started at about 11:45 p.m. on the second floor of the three-level garden style apartment buidling in the 12100 block of Georgia Avenue.

Before firefighters arrived at the scene, many residents had used a ladder to escape the building.

Six people were hospitalized, including a 4-month-old baby who was thrown from a third-story window to safety.

Authorities said none of the injuries are life-threatening.

Damages are estimated at $450,000.

Copyright 2008 by nbc4.com.

I watched part of this story on the morning news, and what this article does not relate is that the baby was thrown BEFORE fire crews arrived, and was caught by a man on the ground. Also the TV report indicated that neighbours had thrown ground ladders to the folks on the upper floors, and assisted in evacuating them before fire crews arrived. The Montogmery Co FD PIO credits them for effecting a good rescue, and that the injuries sustained could have been much worse otherwise.

[Diane E]

This story has more of the details...

Infant Tossed to Safety From Wheaton Apartment Fire

By Debbi Wilgoren
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 31, 2008; 9:05 AM


A 4-month-old infant was tossed to safety late yesterday from the third-floor balcony of a burning apartment building in Wheaton, a fire department spokesman said. An adult in the same apartment jumped from a window to escape the blaze.

After the baby's mother dropped him into the arms of a neighbor waiting on the ground, Montgomery County fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said, another neighbor or neighbors dragged a ladder off a nearby work truck. Neighbors propped the ladder against the third-floor balcony, so the mother and two other adults could climb to safety, Piringer said.

In all, six apartments on three floors of the garden-style building were damaged by smoke, water or the fire itself, Piringer said.

Six people, including the infant, were taken to hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation, bruises or lacerations. Sixteen people were displaced.

Piringer said the fire, which originated in a second-floor apartment, was reported at 11:50 p.m. at the Oakfield Apartments, formerly known as the Georgian Woods Apartments, a large complex located in the 12100 block of Georgia Avenue.

The person who called 911 said residents were trapped on the third floor, with fire and smoke blocking the stairwell, Piringer said. But with the help of the neighbors, those people had already gotten out of the building by the time firefighters arrived moments later, Piringer said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Piringer said damage is estimated at $450,000.

[backsteprescue123]

This story has more of the details...

Infant Tossed to Safety From Wheaton Apartment Fire

By Debbi Wilgoren
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 31, 2008; 9:05 AM


A 4-month-old infant was tossed to safety late yesterday from the third-floor balcony of a burning apartment building in Wheaton, a fire department spokesman said. An adult in the same apartment jumped from a window to escape the blaze.

After the baby's mother dropped him into the arms of a neighbor waiting on the ground, Montgomery County fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said, another neighbor or neighbors dragged a ladder off a nearby work truck. Neighbors propped the ladder against the third-floor balcony, so the mother and two other adults could climb to safety, Piringer said.

In all, six apartments on three floors of the garden-style building were damaged by smoke, water or the fire itself, Piringer said.

Six people, including the infant, were taken to hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation, bruises or lacerations. Sixteen people were displaced.

Piringer said the fire, which originated in a second-floor apartment, was reported at 11:50 p.m. at the Oakfield Apartments, formerly known as the Georgian Woods Apartments, a large complex located in the 12100 block of Georgia Avenue.

The person who called 911 said residents were trapped on the third floor, with fire and smoke blocking the stairwell, Piringer said. But with the help of the neighbors, those people had already gotten out of the building by the time firefighters arrived moments later, Piringer said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Piringer said damage is estimated at $450,000.

That's right down the road from Station 21 and 1 mile from Rescue 2.

[DennisTheMenace]

Neighbors doing what neighbors should!

[MalahatTwo7]

Neighbors doing what neighbors should!

AMEN TO THAT ONE, BROTHER!