LOCKLAND, Ohio -- Mary Newman sent thanks to the firefighter who ran into her burning apartment to save her 10-month-old daughter.
"He just ran in with no hesitation. He saved my baby's life," Newman told WCPO on Monday.
The mother of four recounted her harrowing ordeal Sunday when flames and smoke from a fast-moving kitchen fire blocked her path to the upstairs bedroom.
Newman escaped with her other children - all under 3 - after she couldn't put the fire out.
"My adrenaline was pumping. I was in panic mode," Newman said.
"I just panicked and I ran with the other kids out of the front door because the fire was about to pull over my head by the time I was trying to put it out."
She immediately called 911 and dispatchers told her it wasn't safe to try to get upstairs to her 10-month-old.
Fortunately, Lockland firefighter Michael Allen beat her to the door.
"You could hear the baby crying from the second floor," Newman said. "He just jumped off the truck. He didn't even wait for it to stop.
"All the things that are going on in the world nowadays and there's a lot of love still out there - people that care - and he's one of them. And I appreciate him and I thank God for him."
Newman also wanted to thank the staff at Children's Hospital. The Red Cross is helping her get through this.
RELATED: Firefighter describes what happened.
