Girl, 9, Jumps Three Floors from Burning Building into Officers' Arms: 'She's the Bravest Little Kid I've Ever Seen'

One 9-year-old girl in New Jersey took a leap of faith – literally.

Sofya Doroshenko was alone in her family's condo complex on Tuesday in Mahwah when a fire broke out across the hall, ABC 7 reports. With smoke and flames blocking every exit, there was only one thing for the little girl to do.

"We called out to her to jump, and she did!" Lt. Jeffrey Dino told the Daily Voice, noting that Doroshenko fell backward into officers' arms. "Not a scratch on her. She's the bravest little kid I've ever seen."

One officer told the Voice that three officers stood underneath the third-floor balcony and told the little girl to climb over the railing and jump – the officer said she didn't take much persuading.

Doroshenko told ABC that she was scared to jump, but didn't know what else to do.

"I just listened to [the officers]," she said. "I just jumped because it was no chance."

Sgt. Brendan Mullin, with the Mahwah Police Department, told ABC that burning buildings are usually evacuated before officers arrive. However, Doroshenko was standing on a third-floor balcony when authorities got to the scene.

Mullin noted that there was no way for Doroshenko to get out the front door.

Another officer, Thomas Solimano, told ABC that Doroshenko's bravery was "just tremendous."

The fire destroyed six condos and damaged several others, ABC reports. Doroshenko and her family lost nearly everything in the blaze.

But Doroshenko's family is grateful to the officers.

"I want to thank them. I didn't believe this could happen, but it happened and thank you for saving my child," Doroshenko's mother, Yulia, told ABC.