Couple recalls rescuing neighbor

The following story was published in the Feb. 27, 2019 edition of The Northeast Georgian. Scroll to the bottom to see the original publication. Above, photo by Eric Pereira.

BY ERIC PEREIRA

It seemed like an average Tuesday morning for Judy Innis of Clarkesville. She was walking outside her house Feb. 19 to search for her cat, Gabby. But It was at that point she noticed something peculiar about her neighbor, Karen Ciacci’s, home.

“I realized smoke was coming from every possible area,” she told The Northeast Georgian.

Thinking fast, Innis ran back into her home and hollered at her husband about the emergency.

Innis said she then placed the call to 911 as she was running to the burning home, located at 2250 state Highway 255.

Innis said she opened the screen door and found Ciacci laying on the floor incapacitated. Innis said the smoke in the house was very thick, but she managed to move her a couple of inches.

“We were able to put here in a position to drag her out the door,” said her husband, Patrick Innis.

He said they put Ciacci on a blanket and pulled her up to the top of the driveway to safety.

Noticing that the fire was doing considerable damage to the home, Patrick Innis decided to take action until first responders arrived.

“It broke through the window and started to catch on some of the leaves,” Judy Innis said.

After the rescue had been made, Patrick Innis said he grabbed a garden hose and began to shoot water into the front window where flames could be seen billowing out.

Photo by Eric Pereira

When first responders arrived, Judy Innis said Ciacci was beginning to talk. She was treated for smoke inhalation and transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), according to Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black.

As previously reported by The Northeast Georgian, “... According to personnel on scene, their actions more than likely saved the lady’s life, or at minimum, the outcome could have been much worse,” Black said.

“My major concern was that the place was going to collapse,” Patrick Innis said about what was going through his mind. “Hurry to get her out of there.”

“I was just very glad it was wet,” Judy Innis said of that rainy day. “We’re in a heavily wooded area.”

According to Black, the house is a total loss. After he spoke with Ciacci Saturday, Patrick Innis said

she has been released from NGMC in Gainesville and is “up and about,” but has a horrible cough due to the smoke inhalation. He said she is currently staying in Helen and that she will soon have a rental provided by her insurance.