J. Norman Humphries, 46, carpenter, rescued Melody A. and Michelle M. Nowell, 1 and 5, respectively, and attempted to rescue Mary E. Nowell, 3, from burning, Agincourt, Ontario, March 23, 1965. When fire broke out in a one-story frame dwelling, the mother of Melody, Michelle, and Mary ran next door and told Humphries her home was afire and that the children still were inside. Humphries ran to the dwelling and forced open the door to the living room, which was filled with smoke. Heat was intense. By the light of flames in the adjoining dining room, he saw Melody 12 feet from the door. When another man refused to enter the dwelling with him, Humphries ran to Melody and carried her outside. He then re-entered the living room and saw Michelle at the dining room doorway. He ran 15 feet and reached her near the flames, which then covered much of the floor and walls of the dining room. As Humphries picked up Michelle, flames ignited his hair. He carried Michelle outside, where neighbors put out the flames on his hair. Humphries then broke the nursery window and thrust his head inside. The smoke was so dense he could not breathe. With drawing occasionally for air, he pushed aside a dresser, drew a crib to the window, and probed its surface. Humphries inhaled smoke and withdrew from the window as firemen arrived. By then the flames had spread extensively, and the firemen restrained Humphries from again entering the dwelling. The flames were extinguished, and the body of Mary was found. Melody and Michelle suffered extensive burns. Melody died, but Michelle recovered.
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