ARIZONA NEWS

Photo of Phoenix-area firefighter saving American flag goes viral

Mar 23, 2016, 11:03 AM | Updated: Mar 24, 2016, 6:53 am

(Facebook Photo)...

(Facebook Photo)

(Facebook Photo)

PHOENIX — A photo of a Phoenix-area firefighter carrying an American flag over his shoulder while walking from a huge recycling plant fire went viral on Wednesday.

The photo, originally posted by Adrienne Berman, shows Tempe Fire Department Capt. Nick Ells walking away from a fire near 36th Street and University Drive with the flag.

The caption with the photo read “Amongst everything going on last night in the recycling plant fire, my captain Nick Ells saw that the American flag was about to be caught in the fire and decided to go in and get it.”

The photo immediately began gaining traction on social media. It received hundreds of shares, likes and positive comments.

“What an awesome photo,” one commenter wrote. “You always see these in movies or magazines but rarely do you get to see because of someone you know first hand that risks for us! Thank you Adrienne Berman and your whole crew… THANK YOU!”

Nice work, Cap,” another commenter wrote. “This picture is amazing, by the way. To have such a great shot is something most don’t get in an entire career, even though they are doing amazing stuff like this all the time.”

Phoenix fire officials the cause of the fire at Arizona Pacific Pulp and Paper is unknown, but the blaze was fully contained Wednesday morning and no injuries were reported.

As many as 150 firefighters were on the scene.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Photo of Phoenix-area firefighter saving American flag goes viral