Five people, including a 3-year-old child, were pulled to safety after a raging fire engulfed a home in Mount Vernon early Sunday morning.

The blaze broke out just after 2 a.m. on North Macquesten Parkway, quickly spreading through the three-story residence. Roughly a dozen Mount Vernon police officers raced to the scene and immediately began rescue efforts.

Upon arrival, officers spotted a woman and her young daughter trapped on the second floor, crying for help. With smoke and flames closing in, they urged the mother, Natalie Jimenez, to drop her 3-year-old into their arms.

“It took all of me to be able to trust this person with my daughter and her being so small and we are up so high, that all I could think about is if this goes wrong, that is it,” Jimenez recalled.

Fortunately, the officers caught the child safely and were able to help Jimenez and others escape the burning home. In total, five people were rescued before firefighters contained the blaze.

Local officials are praising the first responders for their bravery and quick action, crediting them with saving lives during a moment of sheer chaos.