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Firefighters who caught 'babies like footballs' during apartment fire to be honored

Jan. 23 will aleo declare the day "DeKalb County Fire Rescue Day."

UPDATE: The firefighters were also honored by the state Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2018.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The firefighters who made heroic rescues in an apartment fire at the beginning of the year will be publicly recognized, officials say.

On Jan. 23, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and the Board of Commissioners will recognize the firefighters for their role and declare the day "DeKalb County Fire Rescue Day."

Early on Jan. 3, DeKalb County firefighters rushed in to help residents escape as flames tore through the Avondale Forest Apartment complex on Pinetree Circle.

Video from a firefighter's helmet shows crews helping residents safely get out of the burning buildings. In one dramatic moment, a child has to be tossed from the second floor into a firefighter's arms below.

See the moment:

"I mean we were catching babies like footballs, literally,” said Capt. Eric Jackson with the DeKalb County Fire Department.

PREVIOUS | 'We were catching babies like footballs'

Right after the fire, Jackson commended the crews on their bravery and execution of getting all the residents out from the burning building.

"It was literally all hands on deck. Before we had even put a hose line on the fire, we had firefighters that were bringing adults out, we had firefighter that were catching babies, one after another," he said.

Overall, the Red Cross said it was assisting nearly 80 people were displaced due to the fire. About 20 units were burned. A total of 12 people were injured, eight of which were children.

Since then, though, the community has come together to help those families in need. Last week, Avondale First Baptist Church invited families who were displaced or experiencing hardship to take what they needed from donations contributed by people from metro Atlanta.

UPDATE | Community gathers donations for families displaced after apartment fire

In addition to the material items, organizers said thousands of dollars, some meant to cover hotel expenses, were also raised. It will be distributed to the families displaced by the fire.

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