The Wyoming Fire Department was alerted to the fire around 8:45 p.m. Upon arrival, they encountered a scene of chaos, with thick smoke and roaring flames engulfing the rear of the building and threatening to consume the roof. Initial reports indicated that several residents were stranded on the upper floor, heightening the urgency of the situation.

Amidst the chaos, a firefighter’s helmet camera captured the intense moments of the rescue, offering a firsthand look at the bravery and quick thinking that characterized the response. As the situation grew more perilous, firefighters could be heard instructing the trapped residents, “Do not jump. There’s a ladder coming up.”

The city of Wyoming later released this footage, highlighting the heroic efforts of the firefighters who risked their own safety to ensure the trapped individuals and their pet were brought to safety. This successful operation is a testament to the dedication and skill of the emergency services in the face of life-threatening conditions.

“Do not jump,” firefighters can be heard shouting up to the apartment. “There’s a ladder coming up.”

The Wyoming Fire Department responded around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday to an apartment building on fire. (City of Wyoming)

Crews quickly raised a 35-foot ground ladder up to the third-floor window to help the trapped residents.

Firefighters used a ladder to climb up to the third-floor apartment window. (City of Wyoming)

“Help me,” a woman says as she passes a child out of the window to a firefighter. “Thank you. Thank you, guys. My baby, please, my baby.”

“I got her,” the firefighter says. “I got you. It’s OK. I got you, OK. It’s all right.”

Firefighters pulled the two adults, the child and their cat from the third-floor window. All three people were treated by ambulance crews for smoke inhalation and taken to a local hospital, the city said. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Firefighters rescued two adults, a child and a cat from a burning third-floor apartment in Michigan. (City of Wyoming)

Firefighters battled extreme cold, with temperatures in the single digits and wind chills below zero, according to officials.

As the fire spread, the city said parts of the building collapsed, forcing crews to bring in an excavator to demolish sections of the structure and fully extinguish the flames.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Multiple agencies assisted in the response, including the Wyoming Police Department, several neighboring fire departments, AMR Ambulance, the Red Cross and local utilities. A school bus was also used to transport displaced residents to a shelter.

Fire officials urged residents to ensure smoke alarms are working, develop emergency escape plans and take steps to prevent fires.