GENOA CITY — It was a heroic effort to save lives.
Thursday, two people were honored in Genoa City after helping a dozen people escape an apartment fire Sunday morning.
Zach McCormack said it was a normal day on a nearby porch when he began smelling the smoke. He saw the fire and rushed to help.
Several loud tank explosions were heard across Genoa City Sunday morning before 9 a.m. The fire displaced 12 people.
“I don’t know. I just ran over," McCormack said.
Genoa City Police Department body camera video shoed the first interaction between Officer Kimberly Goldworthy and McCormack.
The two formed an unexpected alliance that moment with a goal to get everyone out alive.
“I didn’t even think about it. I just took action,” he explained.
The two went knocking on apartment units to make sure residents got out.
Mary Krkljus was one of those residents who was alerted when she heard the shouting.
“That guy was a lifesaver,” she said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Responders believe it was an accident.
