first floor of the building. after hearing someone scream, a little boy is in the building, he grabs a ladder from his store, climbs the fire escape, and is first on the scene trying to rescue the child. >> i was trying to make my way inside. i couldn't. the smoke was way too much. >> stuck outside the window, he can't reach the child and with smoke enveloping them he knows the boy desperately needs oxygen. >> i told him, just breathe. breathe outside and make sure you keep breathing. >> things aren't looking good. but to his relief, firefighters soon arrive on the scene. >> i see a ladder setting in place and bringing up one of the firefighters. as soon as he came up i let him know. i said, there is a baby inside of the apartment. you could see him right at that window. try to get him out. >> but relief quickly turns to despair when he suddenly hears the unthinkable.