‘God is good’: Sister rescues brother from Garner house fire that displaced family

GARNER, N.C. (WNCN) — A Garner homeowner was hailed a hero after she rescued her elderly brother from their burning home early Saturday morning.

Louise Sanders credits firefighters and her faith for saving her family.

“I know God is good,” Sanders said.

Despite how badly burned her home appears, firefighters say it’s a good thing she wasted no time getting her elderly brother to safety around 6:30 Saturday morning when flames were throughout the home in the 200 block of  Plaza Drive.

“I thank God I was able to get my brother out. He’s 83 years old. And he’s got dementia,” Sanders said. “He was standing in the smoke, saying ‘I gotta get my clothes, get my clothes,’ and I just pulled him out of the room.”

Garner Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Tim Rooks says it took about 30 firefighters to knock down the flames.

“Fire crews arrived with fire showing from the front of the house and through the roof,” Rooks said.

Firefighters found Sanders, her brother, and another family member already out of the house.

EMS took the elderly brother to the hospital for smoke inhalation treatment.

“Everybody was running through the yard. It just was real chaotic out here this morning.”

Next door neighbor Tonika Dawson initially thought her own home was on fire.

“I just remember hearing my brother running through the house screaming for my mom. And at first, I thought he was saying that our house is on fire until I came outside. And when I came outside, the whole sky was just orange and black and the house was, like, very black.”

As firefighters sifted through the damage to determine what caused the blaze, Sanders says this isn’t the first time she and her family have faced fire.

“This is the second time. I had a fire before, God. It was the hot water heater. And now I just don’t know why. I’m just so upset,” Sanders said.

Thankfully, she says her homeowner’s insurance will take care of the house. The Red Cross is helping the family find somewhere else to stay.

And despite the house fire, she says her faith continues.

“My brother could have died in that room. I know God is good. He’s spared our lives to get us out of the house.”