13 Kids Jump From Second Floor To Escape Fire

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- Residents told GA Daily News reporter Amanda Cook that a fire at a metro apartment complex forced more than a dozen children to jump out of a second floor window.

Authorities said the fire occurred at the Hidden Woods Apartment complex in DeKalb County at about 6 a.m. Sunday. Fire crews said it wasn't the first time they have battled a blaze there.

Resident Mary Gordon said she woke up to the sound of mattresses being tossed out of a second floor window.

”One by one, they were dropping kids out of the window, said Gordon. Gordon said a total of 13 children had to jump to safety.

”They had a blanket or something. They threw the blanket out and the children would crawl so far and then jump, said Gordon.

She said the fire started in a kitchen and then spread to her apartment below and over to some units next door.

Sunday’s fire was the second fire the complex has suffered in a month. The last blaze began as a grease fire in a third floor unit, according to fire investigators.

Residents Cook spoke with blamed the age of the apartments and the lack of proper fire walls.

Gordon said she lost everything in Sunday’s fire. ”My mother died in August and I had some things of hers I wanted to keep, Gordon said. ”You don’t ever think it will happen to you.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation. The Red Cross was providing assistance to the victims.