CBS 58 exclusive: Milwaukee mother describes 'terrifying' fire where her baby was lowered from second-story window

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Red Cross says 27 people are displaced after an apartment building caught fire Sunday morning, Feb. 1. CBS 58 obtained new video of a neighbor helping save a baby from the burning apartment building near 77th and Green Tree Rd. In a CBS 58 exclusive, Cindy Dakkar told us in Spanish that she was terrified she and her family would die in the fire.

Dakkar was woken up around 5:30 a.m. by her husband with smoke and fire in the hallway, having to lower her baby out of their second-floor window.

With the help of neighbor Anthoni Medina, they were able to get Dakkar's 7-month-old baby into a car seat and down to safety with a rope.

"We couldn't get in from the first floor. So, we made a plan as quickly as possible with the father, who was upstairs, to get the baby down to us with a rope to where we could catch him from the ground," Dakkar said. 

The baby was one of eight people rescued Sunday morning in a moment Dakkar will never forget.

"I don't think there are words to describe everything I went through. It's terrifying," said Dakkar. 

Dakkar's husband was taken to the hospital, as she says he suffered from smoke inhalation, and had a heart attack. He's now recovering in the ICU.

"What I'm going through is not easy. I'm alone in this country with my child and my husband, who is the one who supports our household. Honestly, everything I'm going through with my son and my husband is really hard. I'm totally devastated," she said.

Five others were taken to the hospital, between 30 and 56 years old.

While Milwaukee police investigate the arson, Dakkar prays she and her family -- who just moved in five months ago -- never have to remember this moment again.

Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Aaron Lipski says the apartment complex does not have sprinklers. 

Milwaukee police say they are still looking for the person responsible for starting the fire. If you have any information, you're urged to contact MPD or Crime Stoppers.