Along with her husband Terry, the Thomases climbed down balconies from the fourth to the second floor. Terry Thomas then ran through a second-floor apartment with baby Trey in tow and escaped, while Tanya Thomas jumped from the second floor to the ground.
A back pain, which was treated during an overnight stay at Memorial Regional Hospital, was the extent of Tanya Thomas' injuries.
''My pregnancy is going to be fine,'' said Thomas, 21.
For the second time in three years, a fire broke out in an elevator at Emerald Place Apartments. About 80 people were evacuated this time, while about a dozen were hospitalized and treated for smoke inhalation or minor injuries, said Robert Hazen, a Hollywood Fire Rescue spokesman.
None returned to their homes Tuesday night.
The fire at 3940 N. 56th Ave. began on the third floor of the four-story, 48-unit building around 11:08 p.m. Monday. About 50 Hollywood firefighters and paramedics responded, Hazen said.
They arrived in time to save Debbie Weisman, a third-floor resident. Paramedics carried her down a ladder.
''That was scary,'' Weisman said. ``That was one of the scariest moments of my life. I'm just glad everyone's OK.''
Terry Thomas rescued Weisman's 16-year-old cat, Mellow, by returning to the third floor once wife Tanya and baby Trey were safe.
''When we were in there, with the smoke, we couldn't see six inches in front of us,'' Terry Thomas, 41, said. ``You kind of get a little nervous.''
The Thomases said each took turns climbing down each floor, then pass little Trey down to the other person.
''I thought my baby was going to burn up and I panicked,'' Tanya Thomas said.
The American Red Cross welcomed three residents into their Davie shelter, said Dwight Price, coordinator of disaster response for the Broward County chapter.
Much of the third floor is uninhabitable, Price said. Power to the building was shut off, so residents aren't allowed to live there.
Apartment managers declined to discuss the fire on Tuesday.
An August 2002 elevator-shaft fire forced the evacuation of 24 people at a different building inside Emerald Place Apartments. That fire caused an estimated $350,000 in damage.
Monday's fire may have started on the elevator's button panel, but fire officials will continue to investigate. Damage is estimated between $300,000 and $400,000.
''We're going to really look at this hard because this is the second time,'' Hazen said.
Most of the damage was to the exterior, with smoke and soot damage in individual apartments, Hazen said.
The Thomases are staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino; Terry Thomas is a manager in the casino's housekeeping department.
Terry Thomas said they may be able to return and live in a vacant apartment in Emerald Place.
''On the first floor,'' he said.
