Firefighters Honored For Saving Endangered Dog

CANTON, GA — Two Cherokee firefighters were recognized Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Canton City Council meeting for saving a dog during a Nov. 8 fire in the River Green subdivision in Canton.

Sgt. Ethan Garner and Fire Apparatus Operator Scott Smith were each awarded a Certificate of Bravery for their actions, according to a release from Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services.

Station 11 went to the River Green fire, a structure fire, when the lieutenant had Smith and Garner search the first floor, Garner said, according to the release.

"We made entry into the home and were met by heavy smoke conditions and poor visibility," Garner said. He used a thermal imaging camera to go to the back of the home to check the fire condition before determining it was safe enough to search.

During their search of the first floor, they found Luka, a dog, in the back area of the first floor. Nervous, the dog resisted; but the firefighters were able pick him up and take him outside, where he was handed off to a Canton police officer.

Garner and Smith went "above and beyond" in putting themselves in harm's way to save the dog, Canton Police Chief Stephen Merrifield said, according to the release.

The dog's owner wasn't home at the time, but was "extremely grateful" to the firefighters for saving his dog's life.