Camen Ross Milano helped to rescue Emery G. Welch from burning, Clarkston, Michigan, September 27, 2000. Welch, 76, lay at one end of the hall of his one-story house after fire erupted in the living room, which was just off that end of the hall. Driving by, Milano, 34, off-duty police officer, saw smoke and flames issuing from the house, then stopped at the scene and learned that Welch was still inside. Milano entered the house through a door in the far end of the hall and, despite increasing heat and smoke inside the house, proceeded through the hall to Welch. He dragged Welch through the hall back toward the door but was repulsed by the dense smoke and intense heat and had to return outside for fresh air. Two construction workers arrived at the scene and entered the house in a rescue attempt, but they too were repulsed by conditions. Milano re-entered the house along with one of the construction workers. They crawled through the hall to Welch, then each grasped Welch by an ankle and, dragging him, returned to the door. From there, the other construction worker helped to carry Welch to safety. Welch was hospitalized for treatment of smoke inhalation and internal burns. Milano received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation, from which he recovered.
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