46-year-old man rescued from house fire on Macland Road in Dallas

DALLAS, Ga. - A man is in the hospital after being saved from a burning home in Paulding County on Monday afternoon. It's thanks in part to two Paulding County fire officials who got on scene within minutes.

The fire happened at around 2 p.m. on Macland Road in Dallas. Family members called 911 saying their loved one was still inside.

Paulding County Fire Deputy Chief Brandon Newsome and Division Chief Kevin Hart happened to be nearby.

"Myself and Chief Hart were out delivering a vehicle in the county when the call was dispatched," Newsome said.

"Both of us hit our lights and sirens and were on the roadway when the call was going out," Hart added.

They got on scene within two minutes. Family members said a man was trapped near an upstairs bathroom.

"We didn't have any equipment with us, we were in administration vehicles, of course. We could actually hear the occupant, then we knew he was in there," Newsome said.

"We immediately forced entry in the back. We attempted to make entry, but the heat and the smoke was way too bad to go inside far into the structure," he added.

When firefighters arrived minutes later, Newsome was able to direct them to the exact spot where the man was.

"You would be surprised, we probably saved 3–5 minutes. He already gave us a description of what we needed, what was going on at the time," Hart explained.

The man, who family members have identified as 46-year-old Justin Huldey, was flown by helicopter to Wellstar Cobb Hospital with serious injuries.

"The thing we do is protect life - fire department, law enforcement, that's what you do," Newsome said.

"It went as planned. I mean it was God's plan if you ask me," Hart added.

American Red Cross personnel stepped in to assist the affected family with temporary housing and essential supplies, considering the substantial damage caused by the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.