More than 10 months after a firefighter rushed into a burning building to try in vain to save a 94-year-old woman — resulting in his suspension — he has resigned from Atlanta Fire Rescue to take a job in Johns Creek, according to Channel 2 Action News.
Capt. Danny Dwyer was suspended without pay for running into the home on Collier Drive last June, sparking controversy. The department said he did not follow proper procedure when he went into the house by himself to try to rescue Sally Skrine, who later died from her injuries.
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Dwyer said he could see Skrine through a window and knew she needed to get out of the burning house as soon as possible, Channel 2 reported at the time. However, the department said he was supposed to wait for his crew to enter the home.
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On Friday, Johns Creek fire Chief Chris Coons told Channel 2 that Dwyer accepted a position with his department.
Dwyer’s suspension prompted a large portion of the southwest Atlanta community to rally around him, the news station reported at the time. Vincent Parker, one of Skrine’s neighbors, said he backed Dwyer’s decision, since he tried to save the woman’s life.
“I mean, that’s what heroes do,” Parker told Channel 2. “Sometimes you might forget procedure. You just jump into action.”
The community started a GoFundMe page to show support for Dwyer, which raised more than $10,000. His friends told the news station that he planned to donate the money to charity.
Atlanta Fire Rescue previously provided a statement about the suspension that said: “The disciplinary process for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department is designed to encourage safety and order. It also seeks to establish clear expectations in both emergency and non-emergency situations.”
An Atlanta fire spokesman confirmed Saturday that Dwyer is no longer with the department, but said he did not have any details about the former captain’s resignation.
AJC.com has reached out to the Johns Creek Fire Department for comment.
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