Captain Anthony Moore with the Fire Investigation Division identified the firefighter as Vernon Lane, a Lieutenant with Ladder 1 at Station 1. Lt. Lane also lived in that apartment building and when fire broke out, he got out and spotted the mother and her 10-month-old baby boy on a third floor balcony. Lt. Lane said the woman dropped the baby toward him, and he managed to catch it, dropping to the ground to help break the fall. But before Lt. Lane could get back up, the woman landed on top of both of them. The woman and baby were transported by Hamilton County EMS to a local hospital. Captain Moore said the condition of the mother and child was still being assessed by medical personnel, but none of their injuries were thought to be life-threatening.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Lt. Henry McElvain is assisting with the investigation.
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