Officers Rescue 2 Kids From Burning Savannah Building

Body camera footage shows officers catching children dropped from 3rd-floor window during 2-alarm fire

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:13pm

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An extreme close-up of a charred, twisted window frame against a pitch-black background, conveying the gritty, investigative nature of this crime-related story.The harrowing rescue of two children from a burning apartment building exposes the urgent need for improved fire safety measures in Savannah's residential communities.Savannah Today

Newly released body camera footage shows the dramatic rescue of two children by Chatham County police officers during a two-alarm fire at an apartment complex in Savannah, Georgia. The officers caught the children after their mother dropped them from a third-floor window, unable to escape the blaze herself. The fire ultimately consumed 22 of the 24 apartments in the building, but all residents were accounted for without serious injury.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the bravery and quick thinking of local law enforcement, who risked their own safety to save lives during a rapidly escalating emergency situation. It also raises questions about fire safety and prevention in multi-unit residential buildings, as well as the need for robust emergency response protocols to protect vulnerable populations.

The details

According to police, the fire broke out around 4 a.m. at an apartment complex on King George Boulevard. Officers Thomas Velte and Brandon Lowe responded to the scene, where they found the upper floors consumed by flames and a mother with her two children trapped on the third floor. In the body camera footage, the mother can be heard asking the officers if she could drop her children to them, saying she was unable to breathe. The officers are then seen catching the children as they were dropped and moving them away from the burning building. Firefighters later used ladders to rescue three more people from the blaze, which was brought under control around 5:45 a.m. The two children rescued from the window were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but all other residents escaped without injury.

  • The fire ignited around 4 a.m. on April 14, 2026.
  • The building partially collapsed shortly after 4:45 a.m.
  • The fire was brought under control around 5:45 a.m.

The players

Officer Thomas Velte

A Chatham County police officer who responded to the fire and caught the children dropped from the third-floor window.

Officer Brandon Lowe

A Chatham County police officer who responded to the fire and assisted in the rescue of the children.

Captain John-William Farrell

A firefighter who used ladders to rescue three more people from the burning building.

Firefighter Christopher Carter

A firefighter who used ladders to rescue three more people from the burning building.

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What they’re saying

“Your kids are fine. I got your kids.”

— Officer Thomas Velte

What’s next

The Georgia Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire, and the American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.

The takeaway

This dramatic rescue highlights the critical role of first responders in protecting vulnerable community members during emergencies, as well as the need for robust fire safety measures in multi-unit residential buildings to prevent such tragedies from occurring.