5 kids escape house fire; infant burned

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Three infants, a toddler and a 12-year-old  were among eight people who escaped a house fire on the southeast side of Grand Rapids, though one 10-month-old girl suffered serious burns.

There may have been as many as 11 people living in the two-unit apartment. Fire officials say eight were able to get out with various injuries. Two remained hospitalized Wednesday afternoon.

The most serious injury is to 10-month-old Allison Gamez, who was in critical condition Wednesday evening with second- and third-degree burns over 40% of her body.

The fire at 1018 Prospect SE began just before 10 a.m. Wednesday in the front room of the first floor of a two-story house, fire officials said.

Three passersby saw the fire and stopped to help. Standing near a second-story window was 28-year-old Idalia Sanchez, holding a baby in her arms.

"We quick ran over there and told her she was going to have to jump out the window," said Brandon Buys, one of the people who stopped to help.

"I told her to drop the baby, that we were there to catch the baby, and so she finally let go of the baby and he caught the baby and then I told her to jump but she went back in. I thought she was going to get another kid or something but she came back with her purse. She came back threw her purse out and then I told her to jump. She jumped and landed on me."said fellow Good Samaritan Ron Starks added. 'She said everybody else was out."

Sanchez broke her ankle in the fall. The child was not among those injured, according to GRFD.

It is unclear how the other six people escaped.

A 10-month-old girl, Allison Gamez, suffered second- and third-degree burns over 42% of her body. As of Thursday, she remains in critical condition.

Maria Reyesnevarez, 31, suffered second-degree burns on her arm.

Most of the people were taken to the hospital for treatment, mostly for smoke inhalation.

"We were indeed fortunate that we did not lose any lives today," said GRFD Deputy Chief Jerry Salatka.

Investigators said smoke detectors inside the house were working properly. The first floor of the house, which is where the blaze is thought to have started and where baby Allison was, was gutted. The second floor suffered some damage. Additionally, the house next door suffered extensive damage on its siding.

Salatka said that this was one of the most confusing fires he has worked in years. There is a language barrier that made getting statements difficult. There were so many people living in the residence that the eyewitness accounts aren't quite matching up. I

On Thursday, investigators determined the fire began with kids playing with a fire igniter (matches or a lighter.)

Homes in this neighborhood are targeted in a Residential Fire Safety Program the GRFD has through an award from FEMA.