Three-year-old girl and four others rescued from Mount Vernon fire.

In a dramatic rescue early Sunday morning, five individuals were saved from a house engulfed in flames in Mount Vernon, New York, including a 3-year-old girl who was dropped from a second-story window. The incident occurred on North Macquesten Parkway around 2:20 a.m., prompting several police officers on patrol to rush to the scene after hearing cries for help.

Upon arrival, the Mount Vernon Police Department observed a woman and child trapped in a second-floor window, calling for assistance. Officers Charlie Rizzo and Brandi Mason attempted to enter the flames but were quickly forced back by the intense heat and thick smoke. Undeterred, Rizzo and Officer Brandon Hunter-Carney advanced to the front porch, where they found Nathalie Jimenez clinging to her daughter, desperately seeking a way to escape.

In the face of life-threatening danger, the situation required extraordinary bravery. Officers urged Jimenez, who was visibly terrified, to drop her child into their waiting arms. Their repeated reassurances, “We gotcha, we gotcha,” were crucial in convincing her to take the leap of faith. Jimenez later recounted her struggle to trust the officers with her daughter, painfully aware of the risks involved.

Ultimately, Jimenez released her daughter, who was safely caught by the officers below. Their focus then shifted to the remaining four individuals trapped in the home. Rizzo heroically assisted Hunter-Carney to the porch roof, from where two other officers elevated Rizzo. Through this coordinated effort, the police successfully rescued the entire family, including Jimenez’s boyfriend and the toddler’s father, Andres Garita.

While the family has received temporary housing assistance, they tragically lost all their possessions in the fire, including clothing and educational supplies just days before the school year starts. In response to their plight, Jimenez has initiated an online fundraising campaign aimed at assisting her family in recovering from this devastating loss.

The timely intervention of the Mount Vernon police exemplifies heroism and community support in times of crisis. As this family navigates their recovery, they face significant challenges, underscoring the importance of community assistance in rebuilding lives affected by such emergencies.