An Atlanta firefighter is facing suspension for trying to rescue an elderly woman from a burning building.

During a fire last June, Captain Daniel Thomas Dwyer ran into the building to rescue a 95-year-old woman trapped inside.  He got her out, but unfortunately she couldn’t be revived.

Now the fire chief is saying Dwyer broke protocal by running into the house without waiting for other firefighters.  He was given a four-day suspension and docked 48 hours pay as a result.

But the union says Dwyer made a ‘split-second’ decision to attempt the rescue and that the suspension “sends the wrong message”.