WILDWOOD CREST, N.J. (AP) - Authorities say a man tossed his young niece and nephew from a second-floor balcony to rescuers waiting below after a multifamily home on the Jersey shore caught fire.
Eight people overall were rescued from the Wildwood Crest home, which first caught fire Monday night and then rekindled early Tuesday. The uncle was able to safely escape by jumping onto a garage roof.
Emergency crews were first dispatched to the home around 6:20 p.m. Monday. Police and firefighters then worked together to clear the building of its occupants, including a woman who was treated for smoke inhalation.
The rekindled blaze was reported around 1:40 a.m. Tuesday. It was brought under control about 30 minutes later.
Investigators say the fire was an accident but have not determined a cause.
___
This story corrects that the man who tossed the children to rescuers was their uncle, not their father, and that eight people were rescued from the building, not seven.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.