Captain: “It was an honor to be a part of that scene that day.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — On the night of December 11th a house fire call was dispatched to the 100 block of Deer Pass Way. Two people were trapped inside and then in the mist of the burning blaze local firefighters became heroes. “It went out as a house fire with two entrapments,” says Captain Brantley Hanna, Columbia Fire Department. Shortley after arriving on scene, Captain Hanna says they learned those trapped were two children. “Everybody on the scene, trucks keep coming in, started just going into rescue mode,” says Hanna. The children were on the second story of the home, reportedly taking a nap. Firefighters raced to save them. “A couple of people going through windows, a couple of people going upstairs,” says Hanna. The mother of the kids stood watching with her other two children by her side. Hanna, a father of four himself, sympathized. “I certainly put myself in the place of that parent I saw in the front yard, but your professional side, you gotta be firefighter first on that scene and you can be the father a little bit later,” says Hanna. The rescue lasted only a few minutes. The children were pulled from the home to safety. Thursday morning the Firefighters were honored with outstanding service awards. “These men and women put their lives on the line so that others will have the chance at life,” says Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins. About twenty-four firefighters were honored, Hanna was one of them. “It was an honor to be a part of that scene that day I think for every member that was on the scene,” says Hanna. Hanna tells us he hasn’t seen the family since that day, but that he is thankful they will be able to celebrate Christmas together in just a few short days.