'We Huddled In The Corner Because The Flames Were Really High'

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Samara Lee could feel the heat from the flames and she could smell the smoke.

Lee was in the Professional Arts Academy Monday when a horrific fire broke out. Lee, her classmates, and two teachers tried to escape the blaze down the stairs, but couldn't. The studio was on the second floor.

"We looked for an exit, but the only way we could get out was the stairs, but they were already on fire," said Lee, 14. "So we huddled in the corner of the balancy, because the flames were really high."

Lee said she and other students "really panicked" when they couldn't escape.

Lee's teachers got the students onto the balcony where firefighters tried to get them down with ladders, but they were not long enough.

Lee was left dangling by her fingertips on the balcony. Then, she let go. Other students jumped. Videos of the dramatic rescue posted on social media were viewed thousands of times.

"The only solution was to jump," Lee said. "I was scared and couldn't see anything because there was a lot of smoke. My teachers, they both said, 'you gotta do it because that was the only way to survive."

Lee only suffered friction burns from unsuccessfully trying to slide down a pole.

"Just gotta get the girls out, couldn't do it quick enough," Edgewater police Sgt. James Dalton told News4 New York.

The flames were knocked down by Monday night. No one was seriously hurt. The smoke could be seen from Manhattan, Patch previously reported.

"She's a good person," said Nick Sacco, principal of Lincoln School in North Bergen where Lee is a student. "She's one of the best students we have and we're glad she's OK."

Related: Children Jump For Their Lives From NJ Dance Studio Fire (Video)

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Photo: Samara Lee (YouTube screenshot)