Dalton man honored for rescuing elderly sisters from burning home

DALTON, Ga. — A Dalton man is being called a hero after he rescued two elderly women from their home while it was on fire.

On Monday, Dalton leaders commended Abraham Sanchez Lopez for his efforts.

But the women he saved say he deserves more than a plaque.

"If it hadn't been for him, we would have lost our lives,” said Faye Wooten, who Lopez saved in the fire.

Fire and smoke filled Faye Wooten and her sister Carolyn Nelson's home in the early morning hours of July 8.

"When I came back down the hall, I saw the flames coming up through the kitchen window," said Wooten.

Unable to lift her sister, who is wheelchair bound, Wooten feared they were trapped.

But suddenly, help came knocking.

"We couldn't get out, so he took his foot and knocked the railing off of the porch,” said Wooten.

According to Dalton City Fire Department, Abraham Sanchez Lopez, rushed into the burning home four times:

Twice to save Wooten and Nelson.

The third to get Nelson's wheelchair.

And finally, in an attempt to save their cat.

"We thank God we didn't have to pull out two deceased ladies out. Mr. Lopez is a big reason for that,” said Dalton Fire Chief Todd Pangle.

Chief Pangle says Lopez had saved the sisters by the time his crews arrived to put out the flames.

He says if Wooten and Nelson had stayed in the home minutes longer, this would be a different kind of story.

"It was a perfect storm if you will, everything fell into place perfectly,” said Chief Pangle.

For his efforts, the agency honored Lopez with its Citizen Lifesaving Award, an honor only granted twice in the town's history.

"It's truly an amazing story. Such a selfless act," said Chief Pangle.

Now, Lopez has a plaque by which to remember his efforts, but Wooten and Nelson say he deserves more.

“I just wish we could do more from him. I just don't know what else we could do,” said Wooten.

"He doesn't think of hiself as a hero, but we do,” said Wooten.

Wooten and Nelson’s home is currently under reconstruction.

We reached out to Lopez on Thursday. His family tells us he was unable to return our calls, because he had a long day at work.