Heroes to all: Firefighters don't just put out fires, they also save lives

It might seem like a small thing to some -- a missing dog in the face of a fire that heavily damaged a family's home.

But it did matter, not just to one of the women who lived there, but to the Goldsboro Fire Department.

In addition to braving the conditions and putting out the blaze Monday, Goldsboro's firefighters did something pretty special.

They took the time to make sure that Amelia Lorraine came home.

The crew pulled the dog from the home and the Wayne County EMS made sure she was treated with oxygen with the same care and concern on their faces that would have been there for any other family member.

They didn't have to -- and everyone would have understood. There is a risk to going into a burning home for any reason.

But because they did, Septimber Clements did not have to bury one of her family's pets. She hugged her instead.

There are hundreds of heroes in Wayne County who work for law enforcement, fire, rescue and EMS who make miracles like this happen every day. We do not tell them enough how much we appreciate what they do. And we don't really know how often they take action just like this -- because it is the right thing to do.

Today is one of the days when we are going to make sure they know just how much they are valued and how we could not do without them.

All of you really are our heroes.

You really do make a difference.

Published in Editorials on January 13, 2015 11:09 AM