Heroic firefighter saves baby trapped in basement of burning NYC home: FDNY

Now that’s a Hail Mary.

A heroic firefighter bolted into a burning Staten Island abode to retrieve a baby from the smoke-filled basement, then dramatically passed the child to another flame-eater through a window, officials said. 

Capt. Anthony Harper of Engine 163 was the first firefighter to respond to multiple reports of trapped individuals in a blaze at 267 Ada Drive in Graniteville around 3:45 p.m. Friday, FDNY Deputy Chief John Russell later told reporters at the scene. 

Harper didn’t hesitate when a civilian informed him there was still a baby inside, Russell said. 

“Harper went down to the basement – there was a very heavy smoke condition – he found the baby on the bottom bunk of a bunk bed that was towards the back of the house.

“He saw that there was a window right there, and in an attempt to get the baby to the cleanest air possible as quickly as possible, instead of going through the apartment that he had just come through, he began to pass the baby just out into the fresh air,” Russell explained. 

Thankfully, Ryan Smith of Engine 166, happened to be standing outside of the same window, and grabbed the baby from Harper, Russell said. 

After being treated by EMS at the scene, the baby was taken to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, where it was listed in critical condition, according to the FDNY. 

Two adults and two other children who had self-evacuated were also taken to the hospital, the department said. 

Firefighters brought the two-alarm blaze under control in less than 40 minutes, according to Russell. 

Fire marshals are still investigating the cause of the flames.