4 police officers hailed as heroes after rushing towards raging fire to save residents

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — Four Canton police officers are being hailed as heroes after they saved several residents from a house fire -- even carrying an old woman to safety -- before firefighters were able to get there.

The fire broke out in the Hidden Creek Subdivision in Cherokee County on June 2 around 3:30 a.m.

Multiple homes were on fire when Canton Police officers Michael Caplan, Jesse Lee and Domenick Marotta and Sgt. Taylor Lilley arrived.

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Before firefighters could get there, the four officers pulled several residents trapped in a fenced backyard over the fence. They then went door-to-door to get residents out of their homes.

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St. Lilley and Officer Lee physically carried an elderly woman who couldn’t walk to safety.

Body camera video shows the officers running straight toward the flames to help people.

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“These brave officers continued to go house to house to remove residence who were in danger of being killed by the fire,” Canton Police wrote. “They acted without concern for themselves in the face of danger as they strived to protect the lives of the residents.”

Three homes in the neighborhood were destroyed and three others were damaged.

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

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