Family Lowers Baby from Burning Building in Car Seat

Neighbors catch infant as family uses tow strap to lower child to safety from second floor

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:55pm

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A family in Milwaukee saved a baby from a burning building on Sunday, February 1, by lowering the infant in a car seat carrier held up by what appeared to be a tow strap. Neighbor Anthone Medina waited on the ground to catch the baby as the flames grew. The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to the scene and rescued eight people from the building, which reportedly had no sprinklers to fight the fire.

Why it matters

This dramatic rescue highlights the quick thinking and bravery of the family and neighbors who worked together to save a child's life when faced with a dangerous fire emergency. It also raises questions about fire safety regulations and the need for sprinkler systems in residential buildings to protect occupants.

The details

According to reports, the fire occurred near 77th and Green Tree Avenue in Milwaukee. Neighbor Anthone Medina said the family tried to save the baby's life by lowering the child down in a car seat carrier using a tow strap, as firefighters had not yet arrived. The Milwaukee Fire Department later rescued eight people from the building, which had no sprinkler system to fight the blaze. Two people suffered leg injuries after jumping from the building.

  • The fire occurred on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
  • Firefighters responded to the scene as the baby was being lowered from the second floor window.

The players

Anthone Medina

A neighbor who waited on the ground to catch the baby as it was lowered from the burning building.

Milwaukee Fire Department

The fire department that responded to the scene and rescued eight people from the burning building, which had no sprinkler system.

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What they’re saying

“Since they didn't arrive immediately, we tried to save the baby's life by lowering him down with a blanket to get him to safety.”

— Anthone Medina, Neighbor

“We knew there were a lot of people potentially still inside. We had people hanging from outside of windows.”

— Nickolas Trost, Milwaukee Fire Department Battalion Chief

What’s next

The Milwaukee Fire Department is working to create a database to notify dispatchers of buildings without sprinkler systems to improve fire safety.

The takeaway

This dramatic rescue highlights the importance of fire safety regulations and the need for sprinkler systems in residential buildings to protect occupants in emergency situations. The quick thinking and bravery of the family and neighbors who worked together to save a child's life is commendable.