Video: Firefighter's Dramatic Catch Saves Baby From Apartment Fire
DECATUR, GA (CBS SF) -- A dramatic early morning rescue of several people stranded in a burning building in Dekalb County, Georgia, last week included two children dropped from a third floor balcony who were caught by two fire captains.
It will be a moment that Capt. Jackie Peckrul and Captain Scott Stroup of the DeKalb Fire and Rescue will never forget.
Both responded to a massive fire at the Avondale Forest Apartments in Decatur last week and moments later were involved in trying to rescue the trapped residents.
"I started going up the ladder and my plan was to actually get up on the balcony with them so that I could help them get on the ladder and have somebody else assist them down," she said. "But I got about half way up there and here comes a baby down to my arms."
Peckrul said she didn't have much time to think.
"I was thinking oh my gosh don't drop it," she said.
Stroup's dramatic catch was captured by helmet cam video of another firefighter.
Assistant Chief Jeff Crump says firefighters were catching babies and children that were tossed from the burning building.
"I had engine 3 with my next units on scene," said Crump. "They quickly had a ladder up on the third floor balcony and started taking the victims down. The adults that were holding the babies dropped the babies to our personnel. Captain Peckwell and Captain Stewart each caught babies."
When told she was a hero, Peckrul humbly said she was just doing her job.
"I don't really feel like a hero," she said. "I don't think any of us do. It's our job and we are so fortunate to work for DeKalb County who prides training and equipment and we have a brotherhood here and we work really well together."