David Paul Murtha saved Bruce G. Henderson from burning, Lindsay, Ontario, May 3, 2010. Henderson, 64, was in the basement unit of his house after fire broke out in the structure’s front porch at night and spread into the ground-floor level. Murtha, 33, police constable, responded to the scene, where he learned that Henderson was unaccounted for and probably in the basement. Despite flames along one side of the house issuing above the roof, Murtha entered the structure through a door on the other side, stepping into a room that was aflame. He descended the nearby stairs to the basement, which was filled with smoke, and shouted for Henderson. Following his voice, Murtha located Henderson and attempted to lead him back to the stairs, but Henderson instead took Murtha to another stairway, which was nearer the overhead flames. The stairwell was aflame at the top, but the men climbed to an outside door, the frame of which was burning. They emerged to safety, both requiring treatment at the scene for minor smoke inhalation. They recovered.
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