2 Honored for Saving Family During January House Fire in Dacula

Two Dacula citizens were recognized by the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office for their acts of heroism that saved a family during an early-morning house fire in January.

Amy Oates-Ranel and Drew Ridgley were recognized at the 22nd Annual Fire Prevention Luncheon held at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, according to a Gwinnett Fire press release.

Ranel-Oates and Ridgley were traveling in separate vehicles on West Drowning Creek Road during the early morning hours of January 8, 2014, when they spotted smoke and flames engulfing the back of an occupied home.

Ridgley, a student, was headed to class at Georgia Gwinnett College, and Ranel-Oates was headed to her job as a producer for Fox5 News in Atlanta.

The two persistently banged at the door and yelled in an effort to alert sleeping occupants inside the burning home. The pair was readying to break-down the front door when the homeowner suddenly appeared in the entry way.

The man quickly woke his family and all escaped unharmed. The home suffered heavy damage due to the fire.

Smoke alarms inside the home did not yet sound due to the location of the fire and the absence of smoke in the main-living space.

“A few more minutes could have spelled a difference between life and death,” said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge in a press release. “The family is safe because of the selfless actions of these two individuals and their willingness to get involved during times of great need.”

(Photo: Amy Oates-Ranel and Drew Ridgley. Credit: Gwinnett Fire PIO)