Cherokee County Fire And Emergency Services: Citizens Recognized For Saving Man From Burning Home

Press release from the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services:

April 12, 2021

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services honored two citizens last Tuesday night with the Fire Chief’s Civilian Valor Award for saving someone from a burning home. Randall Thomas and Tristan Bush, employees of Cycle Works Sanitation, were recognized for their role in saving the life of a Cherokee County resident during a house fire on March 4th.  Cherokee County Fire Chief, Tim Prather, presented the men with the Civilian Valor Award at the Board of Commissioners meeting.  Bush and Thomas, along with co-worker Mark Ogle, received a standing ovation. According to reports, Thomas, Bush and Ogle were collecting waste on Hollow Drive near Woodstock when Bush heard a woman shouting that her house was on fire.  Ogle, who was driving the waste collection vehicle, called 911, while Bush and Thomas entered the split-level house to help two residents.  They asked the female resident, who had gone back inside, to get out of the house.  Bush and Thomas located the male resident who unable to locate his wheel chair to get out. The two men, carried the occupant out of the house and into the front yard. Cherokee County Assistant Fire Chief, Eddie Robinson, stated that the two guys did something that firefighters do routinely.  “The difference is, firefighters are highly trained and they’re equipped to handle these types of hazardous situations. However, these men are not,” said Robinson. Harry Johnston, Chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, thanked the local heroes.  “It means a lot when we see somebody put themselves in that position to save somebody,” he added.

This press release was produced by the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services. The views expressed here are the author’s own.