4-Month-Old Thrown From 2nd Floor Of Burning Home, Escapes Injury
BUTLER (KDKA) – A 4-month-old baby is safe after being thrown from a burning home into the waiting arms of a family member.
The fire started Wednesday at a home in the 400-block of Pillow Street in Butler around 4 p.m.
"It was harder and harder to breath, and there's flames," said Melinda Anderson, the baby's grandmother. "I just started screaming, 'Get out, the house is on fire.'"
The infant was thrown from a second-floor window and was safely caught by a grandparent.
"My children are hanging out the window, and the smoke was pouring out. Pouring out. And I said, 'You gotta let the baby go. Gotta drop her, I'll get her.' And I ran to the bushes and I caught her," said Anderson.
Two other people escaped the fire by jumping from the second floor.
Anderson's daughter has a fear of heights. She hung by her hands, but wouldn't let go. A neighbor helped coax her down.
I just tried to help her get down from the second-floor window. She was hanging there, just hanging by the hands," said Ron Ganster, a neighbor.
Firefighters were quickly able to extinguish the flames and there are no reported injuries.
The exact cause of the fire is unknown, but it is believed to be accidental in nature.
The family lost everything in the fire and have no insurance. Damage to the home was estimated at about $25,000.
Fundraisers are now being planned to help the family.
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