LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- The three firefighters that were hurt while rescuing a woman from her burning apartment building over the weekend, are now out of the hospital and expected to recover.
The fire broke out at the Camden Prospect Apartment complex off Lime Kiln Road.
Monica Markin was on her balcony screaming when firefighters arrived.
A St. Matthews firefighter and a Harrod's Creek firefighter tried to get her to climb down a ladder to safety, but she was unable to climb over the rail.
While the two firefighters were with Markin on the balcony, a fireball exploded from inside.
"Their instincts didn't tell them to run, but to help her and that's when they threw her in a corner and they didn't think twice about it," St. Matthews Firefighter Mike Frantz said. "That split second saved her life."
"We prepare and we train and we train and we prepare for these types of incidents," Harrod's Creek Fire Chief Kevin Tyler said. "So when things happen, the firefighters can kind of go off instinct. They're conditioned to react and not so much have to think about what they have to do."
The flames were an estimated 1,000 degrees, as the firefighters protected Markin with their protective turnout gear.
St. Matthews firefighter Moss Clore and Harrod's Creek firefighter Cliff Vandiver both were burned by flames.
Firefighter Mike Frantz climbed up the ladder to help, and was burned on his hand.
"I knew in that instant something was wrong," Frantz said. "That's when I realized we couldn't get down off that ladder, so we decided to try to carry her out the front door."
Markin is now in critical condition, but is expected to make it.
The firefighters all received minor injuries, from which they are expected to recover.
"We all get to wake up again and have another chance at life," Chief Tyler said.
