A young Kamloops man sprung into action on Tuesday and saved a woman and her baby from a potentially deadly apartment fire.

Austin Martin said he was working in the back warehouse at Penny Pinchers on Fortune Drive in North Kamloops over the noon hour when he heard a woman screaming.

article continues below

Firefighters and paramedics tend to a baby who was rescued from a smoke-filled apartment unit in North Kamloops on Tuesday. The baby is reportedly fine, while her mom suffered burns to her hand in a grease fire. - Dave Eagles/KTW

“I hear a lady scream and, at first, I thought someone was getting assaulted and asking for help,” the 19-year-old told KTW.

“I walked closer and I could see smoke and hear a baby crying.

“My first reaction was I bolted inside and told my manager to call 911. I jumped the fence because no one around was hearing it.”

Martin, a Westsyde secondary grad who has completed his lifeguard certification and is hoping to get a job with the city, said his training kicked in as he entered the second-storey apartment.

“I got to the entrance and I yelled, ‘Are you OK? Is someone there?’ he said. “She’s freaking out. I tell her to get down, grab her kid and come with me.”

According to Martin, the woman’s hand had been badly burned.

“It was mangled,” he said.

“She could barely hold her baby. So I took the baby and we got out. I told her to get low and we got out safely. I calmed her down because she was panicking. I got her to focus on my voice, get the baby and we got out.”

Kamloops Fire Rescue labelled the blaze a grease fire, noting one person was injured.

Platoon Capt. Will Harlock said there was no structural damage to the building.