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3-Year-Old Critically Hurt In Brooklyn Park House Fire

BROOKLYN PARK, Md. (WJZ) — A 3-year-old girl has been critically hurt after flames tore through an Anne Arundel County home. The fire started as the family slept inside, WJZ's Amy Yensi reports.

"I hear my roommate running down the hallway, screaming at me, 'You've got to get up, the house is on fire. You've got to get out!'" said Brittany Phipps, escaped fire.

The flames of a ferocious fire spread through a Brooklyn Park home early Sunday morning, with eight people inside -- including a family with three young girls, and three roommates.

"We found eight residents that had evacuated due to working smoke detectors. Fire was found in the rear, as well as the roof of the house. It took approximately 50 minutes and 50 firefighters," said Lt. Erik Kornmeyer, Anne Arundel County Fire Department.

Friends say homeowners 25-year-old Jerry Schwin and his 24-year-old fiancee Rebecca saved their daughters -- a 7-month-old, a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old -- from the blaze.

The eldest, Jade, was critically hurt and rushed to Johns Hopkins Pediatric Trauma Center.

"Ran up their and got her and had to drag her out. She was unconscious. Her mother performed CPR on her and got her resuscitated," Phipps said.

Fire officials say they got the call just after 4 a.m. The fast-moving fire rattled neighbors in the 200 block of Ball Park Drive.

"Its such tragic way to start Father's Day. It's very, very sad," said Jennifer Suber, neighbor.

house fire

Friends started a GoFundMe page to help the family, who lost everything, to start over.

"It's done. There's nothing salvageable in the house," said Justin Roy, friend. "It's very sad because we had a lot of memories in there."

The couple just got engaged about two weeks ago. They were excited to start this new chapter in their lives. Now, they're hoping and praying their daughter pulls through.

Some of the other residents and a firefighter were treated for smoke inhalation. They are expected to be OK.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. If you would like to help the family, CLICK HERE.

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