Officials: Firefighters rescue 15-month-old baby from burning Jersey City home

Officials say that when the fire broke out, the baby’s 17-year-old sister was watching her. Neighbors say they saw the teen on the front step screaming for help.

Matt Trapani and Chris Keating

Dec 6, 2024, 6:54 PM

Updated 5 days ago

Share:

Firefighters rescued a 15-month-old baby girl from a burning home in Jersey City Friday afternoon, according to officials.
The fire started inside the Princeton Avenue home around 1 p.m., according to Jersey City officials. The fire then spread to two other homes and forced more than 20 people from their homes.
Officials say that when the fire broke out, the baby’s 17-year-old sister was watching her. Neighbors say they saw the teen on the front step screaming for help.
Tevin Mwangi was down the block and heard the commotion.
“I just run. I see the house is on fire. She has no clothes on just a T-shirt and underwear so I give her my jacket and shoes and say, ‘Do you want to go to my car?’” Mwangi said.
He, along with another neighbor, called 911 for help, explaining that there was a baby inside the home.
“She’s telling me there’s a 15-month-old baby inside toward the back of the house,” said Mwangi.
Officials said that with that information, firefighters made their way through the smoke and found the child.
“We’re doing the search for the kid in complete fire and smoke conditions and the guys did a great job being able to locate the kid that was on a bed towards the wall,” said Jersey City Fire Chief Jack Johnson.
Johnson said the child was conscious but struggling to breathe. First responders quickly treated and stabilized her on the way to Jersey City Medical Center. The teen sister was also treated for smoke inhalation.
Officials say 17 adults and six children were displaced.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.