WINSTON-SALEM – Captain Scott Gauldin and his team of firefighters were the first to respond to a fire where two children were found home alone.
Firefighters responded to a call at 11:40pm and got to the house within one minute.
As firefighters searched the house, they were shocked to discover two children in their bedrooms, home alone.
Gauldin said, “Everything was so quick, my goal was to get them out of that atmosphere as fast as possible.”
As Gauldin rescued the children, firefighters immediately began CPR before the children were taken to Wake Forest Baptist Memorial Hospital.
The children are in critical condition but their condition is improving, according to Winston-Salem police.
Captain Gauldin has a three year old daughter at home, so the rescue was personal for him. Captain Gauldin went to visit the children he saved Friday morning at the hospital.
He says of the experience, “I mean someone I didn’t know, my experience and the training I’ve developed over the years, I said I need to go see them.”
From the Winston-Salem Fire Department:
WINSTON-SALEM – On February 2, 2012 at 23:40 hours Winston Salem Fire companies responded to a reported house fire on Trellis Lane.
Engine 3 arrived on scene and reported smoke showing. Neighbors reported someone possibly inside.
Engine 3 advanced a handline into the building and a fire in the rear bedroom was knocked dowm.
Engine 3 then began a primary search. Captain Scott Gauldin located a 9 year old child in an adjacent bedroom.
He carried her to the front of the building and turned her over to other members for treatment. He then returned to continue the primary search.
It was then he met Engine 3 Firefighter Jordan Stone. Firefighter Stone had found a 3 year old child in the same room behind a door and was bringining him out.
Firefighter Stone carried the child to the outside and removed his SCBA mask, placing it on the child giving him air, until other members arrived with medical equipment.
Both children were turned over to the Forsyth County EMS. They were transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for treatment.
Companies operating at this incident: E3, E12, E4, T1, B3, B1, Car 5
(from Battalion Chief Kevin Griffin, Winston-Salem Fire Department)
PRIMARY AGENCY: Winston-Salem Fire Department
INCIDENT TYPE: Working Fire
888-620-3473 Toll Free
I know both of these fellows, and can tell you for a fact that both are super great guys, and if asked about this call, they would both say ” We were just doing our job”. Way to go guys.