Sheriff's deputies hailed for saving elderly San Gabriel couple from fire

TEMPLE CITY, Calif. (KABC) -- Two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies who rescued an elderly couple from a burning home are being hailed as heroes who put their lives at risk to save others.

Deputies Orlando Macias and Jacqueline Morales with the Temple station arrived at the San Gabriel home before firefighters got there and found a house on fire engulfed in thick black smoke.

They rushed in and first saved an elderly man, getting him out of the house. Nearly overcome by smoke, they rushed back into the home and found the man's wife, who used a walker to get around. They literally picked her up and carried her outside to safety.

Neither says they hesitated with the idea they were risking their own lives.

"That doesn't even come to mind," said Macias, who is a few months from retirement after 32 years of service. "That's just what we do."

Morales said she expects this won't be the only time in her career that she puts her life at risk.

"Since I was a little girl this is what I wanted to do," Morales said. "This is what I signed up to do. And I knew that, still now I know there's going to be another point in my life where I'm going to put myself, my life in danger to save others. And I'm OK with that."