A Michigan first responder rescued a baby from a burning home earlier this month after urging the mother trapped inside to throw her child from a second-story window, according to footage released on Tuesday.
Officer's Quick Actions
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officer, identified as Michael Arnett, called to the woman, 'Hey, throw me your kid. Kick out the screen. Kick out the screen.' Authorities responded to a report of a working structure fire around 4:16 p.m. on May 15, where the two-story home with three living units was ablaze, according to a press release from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.
Dispatchers were told a woman and her infant were trapped inside the second-floor unit. Video of the response showed Arnett rushing to the left side of the building and being met by a panicked woman who told him a baby was upstairs. The safety officer then asked the mother trapped in the fire upstairs to kick out the window screen and throw him her baby.
The Rescue
'She's trying to get the kid out the window. Second story,' Arnett said into his emergency responder radio. Footage then shows Arnett reaching up with both arms ready to receive the baby and making the catch just seconds later. 'I got the baby. The female's trying to come out right here,' the safety officer said, updating those involved with the incident via his radio.
Arnett told local news station Fox 17 he has a child of his own and knew that the right call was to 'get all the occupants out of the house.' 'She had zero hesitation on saving the child first,' he said. Arnett can be seen handing the baby to a nearby equipment operator before grabbing a ladder to rescue the child's mother.
Aftermath
According to the press release, both the child and the mother were taken to a local hospital but neither had injuries. Fire crews put out the blaze, which was mostly located on the exterior right side of the home, according to the press release. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 'Property can be replaced. Obviously lives can't,' the safety officer told Fox 17.
