Atlanta Father Saves Kids from Burning Apartment

A father is being credited with saving his five children after fire sparked in their apartment early Thursday moing. It happened at the Edgewood Court Apartments on Hardee Street in northeast Atlanta. Crews said heavy flames were shooting from the second floor apartment when they got there. The apartment was completely gutted and several other units were damaged.

Neighbors said that the father rushed back into the apartment repeatedly to save his small children, including a newbo.

"It was bad. It was bad. There was a newbo baby, like a 4-year-old, 7-year-old. He got them out. He made sure he got them out. His hands were but. He got but himself," said neighbor Freda Hogens.

Another neighbor, Raketa Franklin, said flames shot up the wall when he opened the door.

"I've never seen anything like it as far as an apartment fire," said Franklin.

The man was taken to a local hospital for bus to his hands and leg, and he was treated for smoke inhalation. No one else was hurt.

According to fire investigators, the fire started when the father left a lit cigarette on a piece of fuiture.

The Red Cross is assisting two families displaced by the fire.