LAKEWOOD, Wash. — Three people jumped from the second floor of a Lakewood apartment complex to escape the flames early Monday.
West Pierce Fire & Rescue was called to the fire at 14820 Union Avenue Southwest at 4 a.m.
Firefighters arrived to find the second floor of the Union Crest Apartments and several cars fully engulfed in flames.
Two people had already jumped from the building when firefighters arrived. One was transported to the hospital in stable condition.
The woman who was transported to the hospital was pregnant and had an emergency caesarian section, according to her family.
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They said she also threw her 9-month-old daughter out the window to her husband before jumping herself.
Judy Shaughnessy, the woman's mother-in-law, lives on the first floor.
"The stairs were all on fire. So I ran around back. And that's when I'd seen my son had jumped out the window. And his wife threw the baby out the window to him," Shaughnessy said. "When she came out of the window, she came sideways out. And she landed on her stomach."
As of Monday afternoon, family members said the newborn is in stable condition though only weighing 2 lbs.
On Monday night, the family shared photos of the newborn girl.
They said both the mother and baby were both doing okay.
Three other people drove themselves to the hospital to be evaluated.
Residents told KIRO 7 the fire started from the center of the second story of the units.
“I could hear the crackling, and just things exploding. It was just crazy,” said Katy McCormack, who also escaped the building.
“When I came out, the shed was on fire. And then just, the whole thing went up,” said Shannon Morgan.
Five dogs were rescued by firefighters.
Property Manager Robert Sanders said when someone pounded on his door that the building was on fire, he quickly grabbed ladders and had other men try to catch people coming down from the second floor.
“As individuals, we were all heroes, because we all helped. Nobody ran, scattered – everybody was helping everybody. And that’s how this community works and has worked for a while,” Sanders said.
All 16 units of the building were damaged in some manner and the Red Cross is assisting the residents.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
KIRO
