Canton Neighbors Rescued By Police During Multi-House Fire

CANTON, GA — Several families in Canton have four police officers to thank for their life saving efforts during a multi-house fire.

Around 3:30 a.m. on June 2, Canton Police officers went to Hidden Creek Subdivision regarding multiple homes on fire.

Cherokee County Fire Investigator Cheri Collett said that a 15-year-old boy was downstairs in a guest bedroom when he woke up to popping and crackling and noticed the fire. The boy notified his family first, and then ran outside to notify neighbors of the fire.

Battalion Chief Jamie McCord said that firefighters from five stations responded to the fire call, and nearly 40 firefighters were on scene to extinguish the multiple house fires at one time.

Officer Michael Caplan, Jesse Lee, Domenick Marotta and Sgt. Tayor Lilley arrived several minutes before Cherokee Fire began to fight the fire ripping through the neighborhood.

All the officers assisted in saving residents trapped in a fenced backyard by pulling them over a neighboring fence as the fire destroyed the home. The officers continued to check nearby homes to remove residents who were in danger.

"They acted without concern for themselves in the face of danger as they strived to protect the lives of the residents," the department said in a news release.

In one incident, Lilley and Lee carried an elderly female unable to walk on her own to safety.

Three homes in the subdivision were destroyed by the fast-moving fire, and three additional homes received moderate to minor damage. There were also numerous cars that received extensive to minor damage.

The officers were honored with life-saving awards at the city council meeting held on July 15.