'Scariest moment of my life': Massive fire forces parents to drop child from balcony

A massive overnight fire at a Ronkonkoma apartment complex forced a mother and father to drop their child to safety.

News 12 Staff

Mar 17, 2019, 10:18 AM

Updated 1,865 days ago

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'Scariest moment of my life': Massive fire forces parents to drop child from balcony
A massive overnight fire at a Ronkonkoma apartment complex forced a mother and father to drop their child to safety.
Officials say the fire started shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday at a Peconic Street complex.
The flames spread so quickly that a family of three, two parents and a toddler, was forced to jump from a second-story balcony to make it out alive.
Video from the scene shows enormous flames engulfing the building.
James Schlick says he jumped from the balcony first. After that, Jenna Schlick dropped their 20-month-old daughter, Julia, to him on the ground. Then the mother jumped. All three were taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries and have since been released.
Jenna Schlick says dropping her child from the balcony was the "scariest moment of my life." She says it's a miracle everyone is alive after being trapped in their burning apartment.
Officials say a total of five apartments, including the Schlicks', are now uninhabitable.
Residents say they didn't hear any smoke detectors go off.
The Red Cross is working to help residents find a place to stay.
There's no word yet on what caused the fire.


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