US: Baby Caught From Second-Floor Window As Fire Engulfs Kalamazoo Home.

Kalamazoo, United States - May 15, 2026 A mother and her infant were rescued from a burning home on Washington Avenue after a rapid response by Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety crews during a structure fire on May 15. The fire was reported at approximately 4:16 p.m. in a two-story residence divided into three living units, after dispatchers were alerted that a porch was on fire and that a woman and her baby were trapped on the second floor. When crews arrived, they found a fully involved porch fire on the right side of the home. As firefighters assessed the situation, they spotted the mother leaning out of a second-floor window on the left side, holding her infant while smoke poured from the building. Public Safety Officer Arnett moved around the structure searching for the pair. Once located, he guided the mother to drop the infant from the window into his arms. The officer caught the baby and then coordinated the rescue of the mother. The infant was passed to a nearby equipment operator before a ground ladder was raised to the window, allowing the mother to climb down safely. Both the mother and infant were taken to a nearby hospital for precautionary evaluation and were not injured. Occupants in the two lower-level units were able to evacuate on their own without harm. Firefighters faced additional challenges after the interior staircase was damaged by the flames, forcing them to use ground ladders to access the second-floor porch and apartment. The fire was mainly concentrated on the exterior right side of the structure but had extended into the attic. Crews removed sections of the roof edge, siding, and interior ceiling to reach hidden fire pockets and extinguish remaining hotspots. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.