Firefighters in Dekalb County, Ga., are being hailed as heroes after an apartment fire forced a father to throw his children to safety from the third floor balcony into their arms. The dramatic video was recorded on a firefighter's helmet cam. USA TODAY
DECATUR, Ga. — A fire department in Georgia is making national news as video shows its firefighters making a heroic catch.
In the early morning of Jan. 3, firefighters from DeKalb County (Ga.) Fire Department saved multiple people from a burning apartment complex in Decatur, Ga., about 8 miles east of downtown Atlanta.
About 12 people were injured, eight of whom were children, said DeKalb County Fire Department Capt. Eric Jackson said.
One child was saved after being thrown from a third-floor balcony at Avondale Forest Apartments.
"I mean we were catching babies like footballs, literally," said Jackson.
Helmet footage shows firefighters helping residents get safely out of the burning apartment.
"It was literally all-hands-on-deck,” Jackson said. “Before we had even put a hose line on the fire, we had firefighters that were bringing adults out, we had a firefighter that was catching babies, one after another."
The ages of the injured ranged from as young as one month to 36 years old. Jackson said the injured had minor injuries and "should be fine."
Kanesha Lovett had a houseful of eight children, including a newborn, together for a sleepover when noises outside alerted her to the fire.
"I just grabbed all the kids and ran out," she said.
She and the children were able to stay warm in a bus.
"I’m just like Lord, I’m glad I’ve got someplace warm for them to go cause, they ain’t got on no shoes," Lovett said. "I may be sick, but as long as my babies are OK..."
Twenty units were damaged and 79 people were displaced.
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