HOPEWELL, Va. (WTVR) – Hopewell Fire Chief Donny Hunter described his split-second decision to save the American flag from its pole outside the Hopewell Moose Lodge as the building burned as feeling ” like the right thing” to do. The video of the rescue has since gone viral.

The early Thursday morning fire destroyed the building that had been the home for Lodge 1472 for over 60 years. Hunter said that he made the decision after seeing the Moose Lodge flag fall off its flagpole and into the fire.

“That flag drop which made us realize that the American flag and the Virginia flag were probably getting close to the same fate,” added Hunter.