A city man is being credited with helping to save a young child Thursday following an early morning fire in Queens that investigators have labeled suspicious.

The New York City Fire department says flames broke out just before 3 a.m. on Rockaway Boulevard and 144th street in South Jamaica.

Shamel Lawrence, 26, said he saw a woman perched dangerously on a narrow ledge of the house, trying to escape the smoke and flames, and was about to drop her toddler son 15 feet to the ground. That's when he and another man reached up to help the little boy.

"I heard a woman yelling help me help me and I hear glass breaking," said Lawrence. "I see a baby dangling out the window."

Friefighters from Engine 302/Ladder 155 - located right across the street - were able to respond quickly to the fire.

One fire captain says the victims were lucky there was a person driving by to catch the boy.

"About two years old. Fortunately for her he stopped when he did because we were still in quarters getting our equipment on. We were telling them not to jump, but it seemed like forever getting across the street," said FDNY Captain Anthony Varriale.

Lawrence says he helped another child out, along with a woman.

Firefighters also rescued three more adults.

All six residents, including two children, suffered only minor injuries - mostly smoke inhalation and cuts to their hands.

They, along with three firefighters, were treated at Jamaica Hospital.

Fire officials say they blaze was concentrated in the front hallway, and that its location and intensity raised alarms of possible arson.

"It seemed suspicious because it's three in the morning, it's not an occupied area, there's no heaters in the hallway. Why should there be a fire there?" said FDNY Captain Dan Delargy.

Residents who spoke with NY1 at the scene say they thought the house was abandoned and that word of possible arson now has them nervous.

"That would be dangerous to do that, knowing a baby is inside there. Endangering the welfare of a child. That wouldn't be fair," said one neighbor.

Neighbors tell NY1 there has been trouble on the block before. They say a man was stabbed in the head on New Year's Day and is still recovering.