Neighbors save East Flatbush family from burning apartment

EAST FLATBUSH (WABC) -- The Bernard family of Brooklyn is grateful for their neighbors, Good Samaritans seen on cell phone video risking their lives to rescue them from a massive fire. Several men busted windows to pull babies and adults from the blaze.

"It could have been worse. I could have lost my family," said Ron Bernard, a fire victim.

They were sleeping inside their Flatbush apartment Wednesday morning when they heard a fire alarm go off, but the apartment was covered in thick dark smoke.

"We ran to the window in the front of the building and we saw the flames coming up out of the window. We called 911. One of the guys on the court, really two of them, ran to the fire escape. They kicked in the window and they grabbed the first baby and they were moving very quickly," said Taasia Minto, a witness.

"I lost everything," said Tashanne Bernard, a fire victim.

It's a difficult thing for Tashanne to talk about; those terrifying moments of not knowing if they would make it out alive.

"I got a cut on the back of my leg. I need to stay off my feet. I have a lot of scratches," Tashanne Bernard said.

The family believes this was the result of an ongoing electrical problem.

As heartbreaking as it is to sort through the damage before going to temporary housing, they're thankful they all made it out with minor injuries.

"My family is alive, so I'm glad," Ron Bernard said.