Neighbor Recalls Saving Couple From Burning Woodstock Home

WOODSTOCK, GA — Chuck Smith didn't have time to be afraid when he rescued a couple trapped on the roof of a burning home on Knotts Circle in Woodstock, working with another neighbor to bring the husband and wife down to safety using a ladder.

The longtime Woodstock resident spoke to Patch Tuesday about saving his neighbors, a husband and wife, from a fire Saturday night. Smith did not know the couple, saying they had moved into the neighborhood a few months ago.

The fire broke out around 11:15 p.m. at Knotts Circle near Highway 92 and West Wylie Bridge Road, according to the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services.

Smith was alone in his living room when he heard what sounded like a high-pitched alarm, initially thinking it was a car alarm. But he quickly realized the noise was too high-pitched to come from a car.

He went outside and found someone yelling from a bedroom window in the burning house across from his own home. Instinct kicked in and he grabbed his cell phone, ran outside and called 911.

Smith said as he made it through his yard and into the street, he noticed the home's living room was completely engulfed in flames and black smoke.

Another neighbor who was outside handed Smith her husband's folded ladder. Smith dragged it up to the burning home and propped it. The couple climbed onto the roof from their bedroom window and down the ladder to safety while Smith held the ladder.

Smith said he had about a two- to three-minute response time.

"Fear didn’t play a part into it, just trying to put together a quick plan of action to help them get down," he said. " ... Personally, I didn’t have time to be fearful."

As firefighters arrived, the tight-knit neighborhood united to assist the couple.

Realizing what had happened, neighbors began to bring out jackets and water and one neighbor bought pizza for everyone, Smith said. The notion of neighbors helping neighbors is normal for the Knotts Circle neighborhood, according to Smith.

Since the rescue Saturday, Smith said he has continuously received words of praise and thanks from not only the couple he saved but also community members.

"It makes you feel good," he said. "Anybody that was put in that situation has to walk away knowing that they did something good for somebody. ... I think anybody would be proud or happy about that."

Though they were distraught and emotional over the loss of their belongings, Smith said the husband and wife have expressed words of gratitude and are staying with friends.

The local community is collecting items to donate to the couple such as clothing and gift cards.

Smith is being called a hero in his Woodstock community, but he reiterated he is not a hero. To Smith, the firefighters are the true heroes.

"I’d like to believe in my heart that anybody else would do the same thing for anybody," he said. "Am I glad I was there to help? Absolutely. Am I glad they got down safe? Absolutely."

Helping to save them was his first time rescuing anyone, he said. He has no firefighting experience though he completed fire academy training in 1980.

Smith wants to create more fire awareness. He encourages people to practice fire safety, have preventative measures in place, have escape ladders, be aware and have a plan.

The cause of the fire on Knotts Circle is unknown.