'Get out, get out, there's a fire.' Mount Vernon residents recount their rescue from burning home by police
Body cam footage captured the rescue that Mount Vernon police said happened at 121 North Macquesten Parkway around 2:20 a.m.
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Two Mount Vernon residents are recounting how police rescued them, a girl and two other people during an early Sunday morning house fire.
Body cam footage captured the rescue that Mount Vernon police said happened at 121 North Macquesten Parkway around 2:20 a.m.
Andres Garita thought he was dreaming when his house was on fire.
"All I heard was my friend and family shouting, 'wake up, wake up,'" Garita said. "My instinct woke me up and I looked out the window. I opened the curtain and all I see is everybody, like the police outside, waving at us, and they're like, 'get out, get out, there's a fire,'" Garita said.
Mount Vernon police said they found Garita's girlfriend, Nathalie Jimenez, and their daughter screaming from a second-floor window when they arrived at the house.
When officers tried to get to them, they said they were met through heavy smoke and flames. This is when they had to change their rescue plan.
"There was one officer that came full throttle," Jimenez said. "He climbed up the garage, through the deck, everything, including with our friend, Anthony, and they worked hand-and-hand to catch us."
Mount Vernon police said four people were rescued after officers climbed on the roof to get them.
Neighbor Barry Crumbley called 9-1-1. On Monday, he said he is thankful that everyone is alright.
"Absolutely. Absolutely, because that was the call that I was making, to emphasize the seriousness, when I was on the 9-1-1 call. I was like, "Yo, there's babies in the house," Crumbley said.
A cause of the fire was still unknown as of Monday evening.
Officials said the family is getting housing assistance.
Jimenez said a GoFundMe was created to help her kids get clothes for the new school year that begins this week.
