the ledge and reach up to the other gate, and keep climbing my way up,” Jermaine said.
“All for my mom’s safety, period. I wasn’t worried about mine at all. She can’t get out of the bed or walk around so if there’s a fire she needs help out,” he said.
He made it all the way to his mom’s balcony. Once there, Shelia saw her son outside her 15th floor apartment and assured him she was doing OK. She told him the fire was contained.
Jermaine said his mother did not yell at him for climbing up 15 stories, but, “She was more shocked. She’s not surprised by the things that I do for her. She knows I’ll go over and beyond for her.”
Then just as quickly as he got up, he scaled back down the building. When he got close to ground level, he was sure he’d be arrested. But an understanding officer let Jermaine go.
“He told me if I didn’t leave I was going straight to jail. Because that was his job. But, he actually did cut me a break. He understood the circumstances, he knew – when your adrenaline is pumping, and your mom is up there, you’re thinking she’s dying – you’d do anything you can,” Jermaine said.
Jermaine’s mother made it out safely, as did many residents. Four civilians and three firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.