POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – A father rescued his three of his children late Saturday after a fire broke out in their home in Pompano Beach, authorities said.
Sandra King, a spokeswoman for Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, said the fire started about 11:15 p.m. in the front bedroom of an apartment in the 600 block of Southwest Ninth Court. Three of the children -- ages 6-year-old Jaryah, 2-year-old Mariah and 1-year-old Jayden -- were in the bedroom when the blaze started and their father, Ryan Rich, was able to get them out before firefighters arrived.
"As soon as I approached my house, I see the door wide open, I hear my girl, she's running out screaming, 'Help, help. House on fire. Somebody help me. The kids are inside.' I dropped everything and just charged right in," Rich said.
Rich's girlfriend had already rescued their 3-month-old daughter, Olivia.
Once inside the apartment, he shut down the circuit breakers to kill the power. Then he rushed into his children's bedroom.
"The AC was on fire," Rich said. "My daughter's bunk bed was right there. She was asleep in the bunk bed, so I woke her up and pulled her down."
Paramedics took the children and their the mother to a local hospital as a precaution. A Broward Sheriff's Office deputy who arrived before firefighters was hurt trying to break open a window. He was treated at the scene.
It's unclear what caused the fire. The American Red Cross South Florida is assisting the family.
"Just being a father, I did what any father would do," Rich said. "It's simple."
If you'd like to help out, click here for the family's GoFundMe account.