BALTIMORE, Maryland (KRON) — A Maryland mother steps out of her home for a few minutes, leaving her baby and dog, but moments later, a fire breaks out.
Frantically, the mom tried to get back inside but it was too late.
Erika Poremski had just quickly stepped out to her car in the 6800 block of Gough Street Sunday night.
When she turned back to find her house engulfed in flames, she could hear her 8-month-old daughter Viviana inside.
“And I couldn’t get to her, and I tried really hard,” Poremski said. “Everybody in the neighborhood tried. They were kicking the doors in, kicking the windows out, and it was just…I couldn’t..no one could.”
Firefighters got into the house quickly and came back out with Viviana–and an incredible story.
They said that they found Erika’s dog Polo in the room with the baby, and he was covering her with his body.
“And so that way, nothing got to her, and he just stayed there,” Poremski said. “She only had burns on this side because of it, and he stayed with her the whole time in the bedroom and wouldn’t even come downstairs to get out the door.”
Paramedics were able to revive Viviana who has severe burns on her face plus an arm and leg on one side.
But Polo didn’t make it.
“He was my first baby, and now I lost him. And I’m just praying I don’t lose her. It’s all I have, and it just happened so fast, I just don’t understand it,” Poremski said. “I just don’t know why this stuff happens.”
Erika says that she’s incredibly grateful for the support she’s received from even strangers.
A GoFundMe page raised nearly $5,000 in less than 9 hours.
Viviana’s condition is day to day.
“She’s doing the best she can right now, and she’s fighting and that’s it,” Poremski said. “She’s a really good girl, and I just…I hope she’s okay.”