Charles D. Hetrick rescued Martha J. Rich from burning, Brookville, Pennsylvania, February 23, 2006. Rich, 58, who used a wheelchair, was in the kitchen of her mobile home when fire broke out there at night and sent dense smoke into the unit. She shouted for help, alerting neighbors who reported the fire. In his home nearby, Hetrick, 54, technical school student, learned of the fire by radio and immediately responded to the scene. He opened the mobile home’s front door and was hit by smoke and heat. Hearing Rich moan, Hetrick went to his stomach and crawled across the living room toward the sound. He found Rich, who, semiconscious, lay on the floor where the living room and kitchen adjoined. Flames engulfing the kitchen were close by. Hetrick grasped Rich and dragged her to the front door, where a neighbor assisted in removing her from the mobile home. Rich was taken to the hospital, where she was detained for treatment of smoke inhalation and a burn to an arm. She recovered. Hetrick inhaled smoke and also recovered.
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