Knoxville firefighter makes 'once-in-a-lifetime' catch to save baby

With heavy smoke billowing from the windows of the apartment building and the size of the fire inside unknown, Knoxville Senior Firefighter Eric "Bo" Merritt said he could only see one option - the father would have to drop the baby from the window.

Merritt made the "once-in-a-lifetime" catch to save the life of the one-month-old boy, who was among dozens of residents inside the Lakewood Building at Magnolia Apartments, 2730 E. Magnolia Ave., in East Knoxville when someone set a fire in the rear stairwell Sunday morning.

The firefighter had just arrived at the scene to find several people sticking their heads out of windows amid thick, black smoke and calling for help, including one man holding an infant on the third floor.

"There was a lot of smoke coming from that particular window. I didn't think it was the best for a baby to be in a smoky environment," Merritt said as he recalled the moment Monday.

"So before we even got the ladders set up, I told him to drop it - and hope for the best. He thought about it for a second and I guess he realized, too, that was the best option. I didn't know how bad it was on the inside, if the fire was growing or not, so I didn't want to take the chance of the baby staying up there."

A five-year veteran of the Knoxville Fire Department, Merritt had only a brief moment to make the call. KFD Fire Capt. David Frazier quickly agreed with Merritt's decision and stood close behind, bracing him for the catch as the father dropped the newborn from the open window, approximately 25-30 feet above the ground. The child was uninjured in the fast-acting exchange.

"(The baby) cried a little bit but he was fine," Merritt said. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right place at the right time. Anybody with KFD would have done the same thing in that situation."

Merritt returned to the apartments Monday to be reintroduced to baby Josiah, who, despite the drama, was quiet and relaxed in this mother's arms a day later.

The boy's mother, who declined to give her name, was deeply grateful.

"They should give you guys promotions," she told Merritt.

Arson investigators have determined the fire was set intentionally by someone who ignited a pile of clothing and other debris, KFD Capt. D.J. Corcoran said. Aside from the smoke, firefighters were able to keep the flames contained to the stairwell. All of the building's 44 residents returned home by Monday.

Firefighters rescued several other residents from the building via ladders. Two people later were treated at local hospitals for smoke inhalation. One resident also was treated for an injured ankle.

Merritt called it the scariest moment of his career.

"Everything went amazing. Everybody got out. And that's the whole goal," he said. "Hopefully it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I don't have to ever do that again. We don't train for it."