PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A family is recovering from smoke inhalation after a fire tore through their home in Dallas, Georgia.
Firefighters were called to the home early Friday. They arrived within 4 minutes of the 911 call and say more than 50% of the home was already engulfed in flames when they got there. Crews worked through the morning hours to put out hot spots.
It was a scary situation because two people were trapped inside. Fortunately, everyone is OK.
Channel 2’s Lauren Pozen learned the fire started Thursday night when a neighbor called 911 after noticing black smoke coming from the home on Hillside Drive.
There were eight family members inside the home as the fire spread.
Firefighters said five people were able to get out safely, but a 15-year-old with special needs and a 70-year-old disabled woman were trapped inside.
Crews had to work fast to get them out safely.
They reached the teen first.
“By the time they got the first patient out the back of the house was on fire. When they went back in a second time, the fire was already up in the attic and ran the entire length of the house,” said Paulding County Fire Rescue Lt. Steve Mapes.
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Firefighters also faced an active power line that dropped in their path during the rescue.
“Not only are you dealing with a fire and rescuing two people, now our crews are endangered by the live power line,” Mapes said.
Despite the challenges, firefighters safely got the older woman out of the home. Both the teen and woman were taken to Wellstar Paulding Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Fire officials are still investigating the exact cause of the fire, but they believe strongly the evidence points to a cooking fire.